Putin: Ukrainians surrounded near Debaltseve must surrender

Kyiv, February 17 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Ryabov) - The Ukrainian leadership, which continues to deny the encirclement of the group near Debaltseve, should give an order for the military to lay down their arms, or not prevent them from making such a decision on their own, and then not persecute such soldiers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this at a press conference in Budapest, commenting on the situation near Debaltsevo at the request of journalists.

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“With regard to the conduct of hostilities, in general we note a significant decrease in combat activity.

Clashes occur in the Debaltseve area. There are no more blows. What is happening there is understandable and predictable. According to our data, even before the meeting in Minsk, about a week later, a group of Ukrainian troops found themselves surrounded there. At the meeting in Minsk, this is exactly what I said about it: those who are inside will try to break out, from the outside there will be attempts to unblock them, and the militia will keep the Ukrainian military units in this ring, and this will lead to the fact that some kind of time these skirmishes will occur

In the morning, at approximately 10 o'clock, another attempt was made to unblock this cauldron by the Ukrainian armed forces. It ended unsuccessfully.

I very much count on the fact that responsible persons in the Ukrainian leadership will not interfere with the servicemen of the Ukrainian army to lay down their arms if they themselves are not able to make this responsible decision and give such an order. In any case, they will not persecute people who want to save their lives and the lives of other people, who are ready to lay down their arms...

I hope that the leadership of the DPR and LPR will not prevent them ( soldiers who have laid down their arms – ed. ) from freely leaving the conflict zone and returning to their families,” Putin said.