President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the 20th anniversary meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, which was held on October 5 in the southern coastal city of Sochi. Its 20th annual meeting took place under the single theme “Equitable multipolarity: how to ensure security and development for all” and brought together some 200 experts, politicians and diplomats from 42 countries in Eurasia, Africa and North and South America.
Here are some significant points from Putin’s speech:
When we first met at the club meeting almost 20 years ago, our country was entering a new stage of its development. Russia was emerging from an extremely difficult period of recovery following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. We have launched the process of building a new world order, which we consider more just, with energy and good will. It is a boon that our country can make a huge contribution because we have things to offer our friends, our partners and the world at large.
The Ukrainian crisis is not a territorial conflict, and I want to make that clear. Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area and we have no interest in conquering new territories. We still have a lot to do to properly develop Siberia, Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East. This is not a territorial conflict nor an attempt to establish regional geopolitical balance. The question is much broader and more fundamental and concerns the principles underlying the new international order.
Lasting peace will only be possible when everyone feels safe, understands that their opinions are respected and that there is a balance in the world where no one can unilaterally force or coerce others to live or behave like a hegemon. wishes, even when it contradicts it. the sovereignty, true interests, traditions or customs of peoples and countries. In such an arrangement, the very concept of sovereignty is simply denied and, sorry, thrown in the trash.
The history of the West is essentially the chronicle of endless expansion. Western influence in the world is a huge military and financial pyramid system that constantly needs more “fuel” to sustain itself, with natural, technological and human resources that belong to others. This is why the West simply cannot and will not stop. Our arguments, reasoning, appeals to common sense or proposals were simply ignored.
At the beginning of the 21st century, everyone hoped that states and peoples would have learned the lessons of the costly and destructive military and ideological clashes of the previous century, become aware of their harmfulness, the fragility and interdependence of our planet, and understood that the global problems of humanity call for common action and the search for collective solutions, while selfishness, arrogance and disregard for real challenges would inevitably lead to a dead end, as would the attempts of countries the most powerful to impose their opinions and interests on everyone. This should have become obvious to everyone. This should have been the case, but it isn’t. He does not have.
Earlier on September 30, in a speech on the occasion of the Day of Reunification of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with Russia, Putin said: He A year ago, on September 30, a defining and truly historic event took place. when agreements were signed to incorporate four new constituent entities into the Russian Federation. Millions of residents of Donbass and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions have chosen to stay with their homeland.
This conscious, long-awaited, hard-won and truly popular decision was made collectively through referendums in full compliance with international standards. People have demonstrated courage and integrity in the face of attempts to intimidate and deny their right to determine their own future and destiny. By defending our compatriots in Donbass and Novorossiya, we are defending Russia itself. Together we fight for the Fatherland.
But nothing and no one can break the will of millions of people, nor their belief in truth and historical justice. Our entire great united country works together. Russia became even stronger, with the inhabitants of the People’s Republics of Donetsk, Lugansk and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
Background: In September 2022, the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament) and the Federation Council (upper house) approved legislation on the ratification of treaties, as well as federal constitutional laws on the accession of the four regions in Russia.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Putin said in a televised speech that in response to a request from the heads of the Donbas republics, he had decided to carry out a special military operation to protect people “who have suffered abuse and genocide on the part of the authorities.” Kiev regime for eight years,” Putin explained – “demilitarization and denazification” in Ukraine, approved by the State Duma and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.
