Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the ongoing conflict with Ukraine is not a territorial dispute, during his address at the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday.
He elaborated that Russia, being the world’s largest country, does not harbor ambitions for acquiring new lands.
In his address, President Putin underscored the necessity of focusing on the development of Siberia and the Far East, given the vastness of Russia’s existing territory.
He argued that the discord with Ukraine transcends territorial or regional geopolitical balance issues.
“This question is much broader and more fundamental. We are talking about the principles of a new world order,” Putin articulated, according to RT.
Here is a fuller version of that section of his speech, translated from Russian to English by another source:
“The Ukraine crisis is not a territorial conflict, and I want to make that clear. Russia is the world’s largest country in terms of land area, and we have no interest in conquering additional territory. We still have much to do to properly develop Siberia, Eastern Siberia, and the Russian Far East. This is not a territorial conflict and not an attempt to establish regional geopolitical balance. The issue is much broader and more fundamental and is about the principles underlying the new international order.”
He further asserted that a durable peace can only materialize when “everyone feels safe and knows that their opinion is respected.”
Shifting the narrative from territorial gains, Putin highlighted that Russia did not instigate the Ukraine conflict, but is rather working towards its resolution.
He stated, “We were not the ones who organized a bloody coup in Kiev; it wasn’t us who intimidated the Crimeans and Sevastopol residents with Nazi-style ethnic purges. We weren’t the ones who tried to force the Donbass to obey using shellings and bombings. We were not the ones who threatened violence against those who wanted to speak their native language.”
He placed the responsibility for the aggression on Kiev, condemning their use of tanks and artillery against the Donbass region.
President Putin lamented the lack of international attention, especially from Western nations, to the casualties in Donbass before Russia initiated its military operations last year.
He contended, “The war started by the Kiev regime with the active, direct support of the West is now in its tenth year,” underscoring the aim of the special military operation to halt the ongoing conflict.
This discussion was part of the four-day 20th-anniversary meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club held in Sochi, starting on Oct 2.
The forum concluded with a plenary session attended by a diverse group of politicians, academics, and social activists, including guests from abroad, marking a significant event in the international dialogue surrounding the Ukraine conflict and broader geopolitical issues.
Watch the full address below:
