Putin voiced to Kyiv ways to save Ukraine
To save relations with Russia, Ukraine must recognize the Russian status of Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced this at a press conference today, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“The first thing that needs to be done is to recognize the will of the people who live in Sevastopol and Crimea. How is this expression of will worse than what happened in Kosovo? There the decisions were made by parliament, and here - in a nationwide referendum.
No one could drive people to the polling stations at gunpoint; they came voluntarily and decided to reunite with Russia. And this decision must be respected if those who challenge it consider themselves democratic countries. This is the highest form of democracy – a referendum,” Putin said.
Secondly, in his opinion, the Kyiv authorities themselves should refuse to join NATO.
“But all this can be turned around at one moment if Western partners continue to pump Ukraine with modern types of weapons. Therefore, the most important point is the demilitarization of today's Ukraine. This is the only controllable factor that can be observed. Everything else can be turned over. The current president will leave for Washington, and we will be left with Anti-Russia armed to the teeth,” Putin said.
Putin outlined to Kiev ways to save Ukraine.