Putin Defends Russia’s Military Operation in Ukraine
(MENAFN) Russian Leader Vladimir Putin stated that Russia had no alternative but to initiate its military campaign in Ukraine due to the ongoing oppression faced by the people of Donbass by the Kiev authorities following the 2014 Euromaidan coup, which was backed by Western powers.
Speaking during a meeting with business leaders at the Kremlin on Monday, Putin emphasized that Moscow could not remain indifferent to the suffering of Russian-speaking communities in the neighboring state.
Putin reaffirmed Russia’s stance that the conflict originated from the chaotic events in Kiev during early 2014.
What began as peaceful demonstrations escalated into violent riots and confrontations with law enforcement, ultimately resulting in the removal of the democratically elected president, Viktor Yanukovich.
Among the forces opposing Yanukovich were ultranationalist factions such as Right Sector and Svoboda.
“You need to understand that we weren’t the ones who orchestrated the coup in Ukraine,” Putin remarked.
He criticized the West’s contradictory behavior, pointing out that although they promoted "democracy and elections," they supported a "coup – a bloody one, in fact – as if it were normal."
He added that after the coup, the new authorities “went on to suppress the Donbass, killing people with helicopters and jets.”
Putin argued that these actions essentially compelled Russia to respond with the military operation it is undertaking today, and he accused others of unjustly blaming Russia for the consequences.
The coup in Kiev triggered counterdemonstrations and further violence, including a fatal incident in Odessa in May 2014, which resulted in 48 deaths.
The predominantly Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Lugansk rejected the Euromaidan upheaval and held votes for independence from Ukraine.
In response, the new Kiev government deployed military forces in spring 2014, launching repeated shelling and aerial bombardments on Donetsk and other cities within the Donbass region, escalating the conflict further.
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