Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed Ukrainians against the background of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of the LDNR.
Zelensky stressed that the international recognition of the borders of Ukraine would remain the same, despite Russia’s actions.
“Ukraine unequivocally qualifies the latest actions of the Russian Federation as a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state,” the president said.
According to him, recognizing the independence of the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions could mean Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements and ignoring the decisions within the Normandy format. All responsibility for these decisions rests with Russia’s political leadership, Zelensky said.
At the same time, he stressed that Russian troops have actually been in the occupied areas of Donbas since 2014.
“We are on our land. We are not afraid of anything and anyone. We don’t owe anything to anyone, and we won’t give anything to anyone. And we are sure of it because now it’s not February 2014; it’s February 2022. Another country, another army, one goal. This is peace, peace in Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!” concluded Zelensky.
In his TV address on February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk “people’s republics” formed on the territory of Ukraine.
He also asked parliament to support the conclusion of cooperation agreements with the “republics.”
belsat.eu
