Putin Sets Clear Stance on Ukraine Conflict at Press Conference
Vladimir Putin made it crystal clear at his end-of-year press conference in Moscow that Russia won't cease its efforts in the Ukraine war until it achieves its objectives of denazification, demilitarization, and ensuring Ukraine's neutral status.
With its offensive commencing in February 2022, Russia aims to continually pursue these objectives. The annual press conference, attended by hundreds of Russian and international journalists, stretched for hours as Putin fielded questions on a myriad of topics.
Background Information:
Russia's military goals in the Ukraine conflict are not new. Denazification, demilitarization, and neutral status have long been the cornerstones of Moscow's stance towards Kiev. According to enrichment data, the ultimate goal behind these terms is the dismantling of the Ukrainian state and nation under the guise of denazification (source 1, 2).
Meanwhile, demilitarization translates to the reduction of Ukraine's military strength and the removal of military capabilities (source 3, 4). Russia also proposes that UN peacekeepers monitor and enforce demilitarization by inspecting suspected illegal arms sites and cross-border traffic (source 2).
Finally, Russia demands that Ukraine becomes neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear. This would entail Ukraine renouncing any military alliances and nuclear ambitions, and the conditions being fixed in international treaties (source 3, 4).
Key Takeaways:
At the press conference, Putin unequivocally stated that peace in the Ukraine conflict would only be achieved once Russia attains its war goals (source 1, 2).
Despite ongoing tensions, Putin maintained that Russia would not back down until its objectives were fulfilled (source 1, 3).
This unyielding stance mirrors earlier reaffirmations of Moscow's military goals in the Ukraine war (source 1).
Additional Information:
- Ukraine's alleged Nazism is a common justification used by Putin to justify military action (source 1).
- Guaranteeing the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine is an integral part of Russia's broader goal to protect and promote the interests of ethnic Russians (source 5).
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