The conversation between the UN Secretary General and the Russian President lasted about an hour. Putin outlined his version of key events in Ukraine.
In particular, the Russian president called the massacre in Bucha, Kyiv region, a “provocation.” According to him, the Russian troops were not involved in the massacres.
“We know who did it. We know who prepared this provocation, by what means, what kind of people worked on it,” Putin said.
In addition, the Kremlin assured Guterres that there were no hostilities in Mariupol. At the same time, the Russian president is counting on reaching agreements with Ukraine “on the diplomatic track.”
“The situation there is complicated and perhaps tragic. But it is simple in fact. I just spoke with President Erdogan today. He said that there are military operations there. There are no hostilities. They are over,” Putin said.
The Russian president compared the recognition of the “DNR” and “LNR” with the declaration of independence of Kosovo. According to Putin, pseudo-republics had the right to declare sovereignty without the consent of the central authorities, just like Kosovo in 2008.
“I remember very well the decision of the international court, which says that when exercising the right to self-determination, this or that territory of any state is not obliged to apply for permission to declare its sovereignty to the central authorities of the country. This was said in relation to Kosovo, and in this is the decision of the international court,” the President of the Russian Federation added.
The whole current situation in Ukraine, according to Putin, was provoked by the events of 2014. He once again insisted that a coup d’état had taken place then.
“The whole problem arose after the coup d’état in 2014. This is really an anti-constitutional coup,” the Russian leader said.
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