Putin talks about Ukraine’s economy, blames West in his annual address

He defended Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in March, saying that the peninsula is spiritual and strategic ground for Russians. “There were our people who lived in Crimea and finally this historic reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol and Russia has happened,” he said.

Putin said Russia will always support Ukraine as a sovereign state. In his address, Putin also stressed that Russia continues to help Ukraine, despite what he condemned as a military takeover on Feb. 22 that ousted former President Viktor Yanukoych. 

“We can’t understand it and a tragedy in southerneastern Ukraine proves once again that we were right.”

He said he could not understand the uprising after Yanukovych decided to postpone signing an association agreement with the EU, which he dismissed as a technical accord.

“How can we support the armed takeover of power, followed by bloody events in Odesa?” Putin said. “This is just pure cynicism, especially under the hypocritical talk about the protection of international law and human rights. But I am sure Ukrainians will understand the consequences later.”

Putin said the rule of law can ensure the world’s security, not arms.

He also ensured the nation that Russia will keep defending itself “no matter what.” However, Russia won’t be involved into the arms race, Putin said, but they will do everything to secure the country.

“This has to be done. And we have our army, which is polite, but formidable,” Putin said. “I want to stress: either we will be sovereign, or we will dissolve in the world. And, of course, other nations must understand this as well.”

According to him, Russia will keep dialogue with the US and European Union, even though “our American friends often influence our relations with our neighbors.”

“Sometimes I even don’t know whom to talk to: the governments of some countries or directly to their American patrons,” Putin explains, adding that world leaders didn’t take into account Russia’s position on Ukraine’s crisis, which is why Russia has had to defend its interests.

While Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its 10th month, bringing the death toll number among the servicemen and civilians to more than 5,500 people, Putin said he didn’t understand why people are dying now.

Even though Ukraine is on a brink of economic collapse, according to Putin, Russians keep supporting their country with gifts of least $32 billion to Ukraine, “an enormous donation.”

As the West takes a firm stand against Russia to punish Russian involvement in the events in eastern Ukraine, Putin believes the pressure will provide good motivation for Russia to achieve its goals. He is also certain that sanctions will also boomerang and those Western nations who introduced them.

“Sanctions are not just a nervous reaction of the US or its allies to the events in Ukraine or so-called ‘Crimean spring.’ If not this one (reason), they would find out other excuses to restrict Russian growth.” 

Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at goncharova@kyivpost.com