Post #7353

🇷🇺 Excerpts and key points from Russia's President Vladimir Putin's answers to media questions at the news conference on the outcomes of his official visit to the People’s Republic of China, regarding the Ukrainian crisis resolution. 📍September 3, 2025, Beijing 💬President Vladimir Putin: • I agree with those who believe that every country has the right to choose a system to ensure its security. This applies to all states, including Ukraine. But it also means that the security of one country cannot be guaranteed at the expense of the security of another country – in this case, the Russian Federation. We have always been opposed to Ukraine being a member of NATO, but we have never questioned its right to conduct its economic and commercial activities as it sees fit. That includes its right to pursue membership in the European Union. <...> • Security guarantees are natural – I often speak about this. We proceed from the premise that every country, including Ukraine, should have such guarantees, a system of security. But this has nothing to do with any kind of trade-offs, especially not with territorial exchanges. • Frankly speaking – and I want to emphasize this – we are not fighting so much for territories as we are for human rights, for the right of people living in those territories to speak their own language, to live within their cultural framework and adhere to traditions inherited from previous generations – from their fathers, grandfathers, and so on. That is what this is about first and foremost. And if these people, in the course of democratic electoral procedures, including referendums, expressed their will to be part of the Russian Federation, that opinion must be respected. That is what democracy is about – I want to remind those who tend to forget it. Moreover, this is in full compliance with international law: I would remind you of the very first articles of the UN Charter, which explicitly enshrine the right of nations to self-determination. • As for possible meetings with Mr. Zelensky, I've already touched upon this. In general, have never said no to this idea. But what would be the point of such meetings? <...> If we are talking about meetings with the current head of the Ukrainian administration, let me put it diplomatically – it is possible, I have never refused it, if such a meeting is well-prepared and could lead to positive outcomes. By the way, Donald Trump asked me to hold such a meeting, if possible. I said: yes, it is possible. Overall, if Zelensky is ready, he can come to Moscow – such a meeting will take place. <...> • Back in 2022, we urged the Ukrainian authorities to respect the choice of the people living in the southeast of Ukraine, withdraw their troops from there, thus putting an immediate end to the conflict. And I must say that, in general, this proposal did not prompt complete rejection [from the Ukrainian side]. However, after we, at the insistent urging of our Western European colleagues, withdrew our forces from Kiev, the situation changed in an instant, and we were told – almost verbatim: now we will fight until either you snap our necks, or we break yours. I don’t recall whether I have ever said this publicly before, but that is more or less how it sounded – only in cruder terms, though expressed quite openly and, oddly enough, almost in a comradely way: now it’s either us or you. And this continues to this day. • Nevertheless, I believe that if common sense ultimately prevails, it will be possible to reach an acceptable solution to end this conflict. That is my assumption. All the more so given that we see the attitude of the current US administration under President Trump. We see not just calls, but a genuine desire to find a solution. It seems to me there is "light at the end of the tunnel", so to speak. We shall see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to achieve all the goals by military means. READ IN FULL