September 13, 2023
On September 12, 2023 Vladimir Putin addressed the Plenary Session of the 8th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held on Russky Island, Russian Far East. Here are some selected points he mentioned.
Peace process with Ukraine
The Russian President emphasized that in order to start the peace process, the Kiev regime should first lift the legislative ban on negotiations with Russia signed by President Zelensky. Russia can’t unilaterally stop combat operations if it’s repelling an enemy counteroffensive who is not going to cease hostilities at all.
The President said that in order to start a peace process, the Kiev regime should first lift the legislative ban on negotiations. Kiev officials should also "state that they are ready for it. That's it! And then we'll see," Putin announced.
He added that If Kiev destroys both personnel, military equipment and ammunition, it will seek to stop the hostilities, saying it has been talking about such negotiations for a long time now, but it will actually use these talks only to buy time and to replenish their resources and to restore the combat capabilities of their armed forces. “This tactic is possible. In any case, it is one possibility. Again, if there is a sincere desire to achieve something through talks, then let them do so. But why is Blinken saying that?! Let the Ukrainians themselves say that they are rescinding the executive order I mentioned and say so”, Putin suggested. “They have publicly stated that they will not engage in talks. Now let them publicly state that they want to. I do not see anything here that would damage their image”.
He continued: “Regarding the negotiating process: if the United States believes that Ukraine is ready to talk, then let it start by rescinding the Ukrainian President's executive order that prohibits talks.
There is a presidential executive order in which he prohibits himself and everyone else from holding talks. Blinken says they are ready. Okay, let them start by canceling this decree or executive order, or whatever they call it; that would be the first step”.
Updated figures on Ukrainian counter-offensive
Putin mentioned that Kiev has confronted with significant losses from that military drive that started since June 4, 2023. Since the start of the counter-offensive, Ukraine has lost 71,500 troops. Sometimes it seems as if these are not even their own people that they are throwing into the battleground; Putin emotionally remarked. He added that during the Ukrainian counter-offensive, the Amed Forces of Ukraine lost 543 tanks and nearly 18,000 armored vehicles of various classes.
Russian leader also mentioned “The US presidential election process begins in November [2024], and they need to show some results at any cost. They are pushing Ukraine to continue the hostilities, no matter what they say publicly, because they do not care about Ukrainians.
Surprisingly, today's Ukrainian leadership does not seem to care about its own people, either; they just throw them like firewood into a stove, plain and simple”.
Russian relations with the USA
Putin made critical remark upon ex-president Donald Trump who imposed “the greatest number of sanctions on Russia during his presidency”, but at the same time said that everything that is happening to Donald Trump arranged by his opponents “is the political persecution of a political rival”. In Putin’s words, “That is what it is. And it is happening in the eyes of the U.S. public and the whole world. They have exposed their domestic problems…”. The persecution of the 45th US president “reveals the rotten American political system, which should not be able to claim it can teach others about democracy”, Russian leader noted.
He expressed his belief that “… there will be no fundamental change in U.S. foreign policy towards Russia, regardless of who becomes next U.S. president….”, because the current U.S. authorities have conditioned American society to be anti-Russia in nature and spirit; that is how things are. They did this, and it will now be very difficult for them to turn that ship around.
Putin said that this is not good because it fosters hostility. “Despite this, there are many people in America who want to build good and friendly business relationships with us and, moreover, share many of our positions, primarily from the perspective of preserving traditional values. We have many friends and like-minded people there. But, of course, they are being suppressed”.
Western arms deliveries to Kiev
Putin noted: “Not too long ago, the US administration considered the use of cluster munitions to be a war crime, they said this publicly. Now they are sending cluster munitions to the combat area in Ukraine. They announced publicly that it was a crime, but they are doing it anyway. Overall, they don’t care what people think of them; they always do everything only in their own interest. They made some estimates, and since the 155-mm ammunition is running out and it is hard to manufacture it in Europe or in the USA, they are supplying what they have in their arsenals. Well, they have cluster bombs, so there they go. The same is true of depleted uranium. Using this is a crime, they said, not me, they said it is a crime. But they are doing it now anyway. Nothing is working. Of course, it is taking a toll on us. The same is true of depleted uranium. It contaminates the ground. Is that bad? It’s very bad”.
When the moderator intervened that the IAEA head Rafael Mariano Grossi said, “No, nothing like this will happen”, Putin responded: “We know what it is. The land will be contaminated anyway. And what about it? Has it altered the situation? The British have been sending these shells for a long time. Has it changed anything on the battlefield? No. Now they are going to send F-16s. Will it change anything? No. It is just dragging out the conflict”.
The UK involvement in Ukrainian-NATO aggression
Putin continued: “Not long ago, on our territory, the Federal Security Service, during an armed confrontation, eliminated several troops and captured the rest. They turned out to be a sabotage group from Ukrainian special services. Interrogations are underway. What were their objectives? Their mission was to damage one of our nuclear power plants, blow up a power line, high-voltage transmission lines, with the aim of disrupting the power plant’s operation. This was not their first attempt at that. During the interrogation, they said they had been trained by British instructors. Do they understand what they are playing with? Are they trying to provoke us into taking retaliatory actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities?
Does the British Government and the Prime Minister know what their intelligence agencies are doing in Ukraine, or are they are clueless? I even consider the possibility that British intelligence agencies are acting under the instructions of the Americans, and we know who the ultimate beneficiary is. Do they understand what they are dealing with, or not? I think they are simply underestimating the situation. You know I am aware that once I say this, they will start yelling that this is another threat, nuclear blackmail, and so on. I assure you that what I just said is the full and unadulterated truth. These individuals are in our custody and cooperating. I know the likely reaction: “They will say whatever you want at gunpoint.” No, that is not the case, and the leadership of the British intelligence agencies knows that I am telling the truth. But I am not sure if Britain’s leaders truly understand what is going on.
These things really concern us because they do not know where to stop, and this could lead to serious consequences”, Putin stressed.
Breaking news: On September 13, 2023 ten UK-French-made “Storm Shadow” missiles have been fired by Ukraine against Sevastopol. Seven of them have been intercepted by Russian missile defense units. 24 people were reportedly injured and some naval ships have been slightly damaged.
Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
