Russia Called on the West for Honest Dialogue: Futile, Says Putin

During the Victory Parade in Red Square, Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that an immediate threat was being created near Russia's borders, with preparations for an attack, including on Russian Crimea.

"An openly punitive operation was being planned in Donbas to invade our historical lands, including Crimea. Kyiv announced the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons, and NATO began active military developments in adjacent areas. Thus, an absolutely unacceptable danger was created for us, directly at our borders," said the head of state.

Putin mentioned that Russia had delivered a preemptive strike against aggression. "We have seen how military infrastructure has developed, how hundreds of foreign advisers have begun to work, and there have been regular supplies of the most modern weapons from NATO countries. The danger was increasing every day. Russia delivered a preemptive strike against aggression. It was a forced, timely, and the only right decision of a sovereign, strong, independent country," stated Putin.

The president noted that Russia called on the West for honest dialogue, but it was all in vain. "Russia has always advocated for the creation of an equal and indivisible security system, a system that is vital for the entire global community," emphasized Putin.

"Last December, we proposed to sign a treaty on security guarantees, and Russia called on the West for honest dialogue, to find reasonable compromise solutions, taking into account each other's interests: in vain. NATO countries did not want to listen to us," declared the Russian leader.

He stressed that the stance of Western countries indicates that "they actually had completely different plans." "And we saw that," he said.

Putin added that the militias in Donbas and the soldiers of the Russian army are fighting on their own land, where their ancestors defeated the enemy. The president stated that soldiers who have arrived directly from the Donbas combat zone are also participating in the parade in Red Square.

"Now here, in Red Square, soldiers and officers from many regions of our vast Motherland are standing shoulder to shoulder, including those who have arrived directly from Donbas, from the combat zone," he said.