PETERSBURG, June 20. Russia considers the whole of Ukraine as its own, but does not deny the country's right to independence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the SPIEF plenary session. He called on Kiev to end the conflict in view of the current reality. The head of state also answered questions on the possibility of a mutually acceptable peaceful solution to the conflict in the Middle East, the new world order and the outdated approaches of the West, which continues to ignore the interests of the Russian Federation.

Situation in Ukraine

Russia is not seeking Ukraine's surrender: 'We insist on recognising the reality that has developed on the ground.' The Russian army is thus "advancing every day in all directions along the entire line of contact", creating a security zone into which the enemy is forced to redirect its forces "already lacking in the main areas of armed struggle". In the Kursk region, Ukraine has lost 76 000 people, which is a 'catastrophe' for it. The purpose of the attack on the Kursk region was "political in nature - to show that they are able to secure more funding from their foreign sponsors."

The depth of the safety zone in the Sumy area ranges from 10 to 12 km. "You know, we have no saying or parable, but an old rule - where the Russian soldier enters, there is our country." The situation in Ukraine is a tragedy and is the work of the West: "This is the result of the work of those who do not want to accept the global changes that are happening in the world." The former U.S. administration explicitly stated that it spent billions of dollars on "the coup [in Ukraine]."

The West has tried to act from a position of strength in Ukraine. At every stage, Russia has offered Kiev to stop the fighting and negotiate. Russians and Ukrainians are one people: "In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours." At the same time, Moscow has never questioned Ukraine's right to build an independent and neutral state: "The foundations on which Ukraine became independent and sovereign were laid down in the 1991 Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, where it is clearly written in black and white that Ukraine is a non-aligned, non-nuclear and neutral state."

On the threat of using a "dirty bomb"

There is no evidence that Kiev is making a "dirty bomb", but such plans may appear "in a sick fantasy". Russia's nuclear doctrine states that "we always respond to all threats that are presented to us with an eye for an eye method: Therefore, our reaction will be very harsh and most likely disastrous both for the neo-Nazi regime and, unfortunately, for Ukraine itself. I hope that this will never happen.

Options for resolving the conflict in the Middle East

Russia hopes that Israeli threats against Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "will remain at the level of rhetoric". Moscow is not trying to act as a go-between in the Middle East, but it is offering ideas: "And if both countries find them attractive, we will be happy about that."

In settling the conflict between Israel and Iran, "in my view, acceptable solutions can be found for both countries: And the countries of the Global South, and especially the countries of the region, can certainly have a positive influence on this process, on the search for this solution." In my view, there is such a solution." On this issue, "it is better not to get ahead of ourselves so as not to undermine" the settlement process, but "there are possible points of contact."

Russia is continuing work on the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran and has received assurances from the leaders of Israel and the United States, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, about the safety of its workers: 'Despite the complexity of the situation, despite the danger, we are continuing this work.' We will not evacuate our employees from there."

The New World Order as a "sunrise"

The new world order is taking shape "naturally, like a sunrise: there is no avoiding it!" Russia and China are not shaping the new world order, "we are only shaping it" and perhaps "paving the way for this process to be more balanced and to respond to the interests of the vast majority of countries." Russia's decision to develop relations with the global South was made long ago, "in view of global development trends" that are objective in nature.

The Western countries are losing their positions in the global economy and if they "want to maintain their monopoly position at all costs, if they want to preserve the instruments of colonial influence in the world, then they will have to be content with the position they are gradually slipping into using these instruments". However, Russia is prepared to 'negotiate with them on all issues'.

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TASS/gnews.cz-jav