Putin Says Feelings and Pain of Donbass Residents Prompted Russia to Recognise DPR and LPR
04:33 GMT 24.02.2022 (Updated: 18:40 GMT 25.02.2022)
© Sputnik / Alexey Nikolsky
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Earlier on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to conduct a special operation in Donbass, saying that he expects consolidated parliamentary support for the operation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the "feelings and pain" of residents in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine prompted Russia to recognise the independence of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People's Republics.
"It is impossible to look at everything that is happening there [in Donbass] without compassion, it was simply impossible to endure all this, it was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare, the genocide against the millions of people living there, who rely only on Russia, hope only on us", Putin said in a special televised address on Thursday.
He added that "it was those aspirations, feelings, and pain of people that became for us the main motivation to make decisions on the recognition of independence of the people's republics in Donbass".
Separately, the Russian president noted that it is hard not to agree with those experts who say that an empire of lies has been created inside the United States.
"US politicians, political scientists, and journalists themselves write and talk about the fact that a real empire of lies has been created inside the United States. It is hard to disagree with this, that is the way it is. But do not be modest, the United States is still a great country, a system-forming power. All its satellites not only obediently agree...for any reason but also copy its behaviour, enthusiastically accept the rules", Putin stressed.
The statement comes shortly after Putin authorised a Russian special operation in Donbass which he said would be aimed at demilitarising Ukraine.
"The goal [of the Russian special operation] is to protect people who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years, and for this we will strive to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to justice those who committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful residents, including citizens of the Russian Federation", Putin said in the televised address to citizens.
President Putin recognized the DPR and LPR after a significant deterioration of the situation along the line of contact amid interference by the United States and its allies.
