Russian President Vladimir Putin defended Moscow’s large-scale military campaign in Ukraine, which began more than three years ago, during his participation on Monday in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking at the summit in Tianjin, China, Putin said:
"This crisis was not caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but by a coup in Ukraine that was supported and instigated by the West."
He added:
"The second reason for this crisis is the West’s continuous attempts to draw Ukraine into NATO."
Putin was referring to the pro-European revolution in Ukraine during 2013–2014, which ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. In response, Moscow annexed Crimea and supported Russia-aligned separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The summit in Tianjin brought together about 20 leaders from the Eurasian region. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his opening remarks, called for opposition to Cold War mentalities and intimidation in international relations.
Putin argued that the world now needs
"a system to replace the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic systems, one that considers the interests of a wider circle of countries."
He also praised the efforts and proposals of China, India, and other strategic partners aimed at contributing to a resolution of the Ukraine crisis.
Putin confirmed that he would discuss diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement in Ukraine during a series of bilateral meetings in Tianjin, particularly following his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15.
-- (AFP)
