News
29 july 2014
The situation in the East of Ukraine has escalated even more in recent days and hours.
Having received another portion of support from the United States and the European Union, the Kiev authorities started a massive attack on peaceful cities and peaceful nationals in the East of Ukraine.
17 civilians, including three children, died as a result of artillery shooting by Ukrainian forces in Gorlovka. The school building was destroyed by a direct hit with a Ukrainian missile. Several missiles struck the territory of the city hospital, there is damage to the buildings of the maternity department. Mourning was announced in the city. We are mourning together with the population of this honoured mining city. We are convinced that those who are guilty of this terrible crime will not avoid responsibility.
Having received another portion of support from the United States and the European Union, the Kiev authorities started a massive attack on peaceful cities and peaceful nationals in the East of Ukraine.
17 civilians, including three children, died as a result of artillery shooting by Ukrainian forces in Gorlovka. The school building was destroyed by a direct hit with a Ukrainian missile. Several missiles struck the territory of the city hospital, there is damage to the buildings of the maternity department. Mourning was announced in the city. We are mourning together with the population of this honoured mining city. We are convinced that those who are guilty of this terrible crime will not avoid responsibility.
29 july 2014
On the 29 July, the Ukrainian forces launched grenades and shot using automatic weapons at the employees of the Russian Gukovo customs checkpoint.
The customs checkpoint received new damage, in addition to the damage done earlier as a result of shooting by the Ukrainian forces.
It seems that Kiev is clearly afraid of the OSCE observation mission, which is being deployed at the Gukovo checkpoint and should monitor the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian state border.
We request the official Kiev to stop shooting at the sovereign territory of the Russian Federation and to ensure the security of international observers.
The customs checkpoint received new damage, in addition to the damage done earlier as a result of shooting by the Ukrainian forces.
It seems that Kiev is clearly afraid of the OSCE observation mission, which is being deployed at the Gukovo checkpoint and should monitor the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian state border.
We request the official Kiev to stop shooting at the sovereign territory of the Russian Federation and to ensure the security of international observers.
28 july 2014
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There have been a lot of addresses from representatives of Russian and foreign mass media, which are accredited in Moscow, lately, all of them asking for an interview. We decided that it would be correct to organise a briefing. Thank you for responding to our invitation
I will not stop in detail on different aspects of the Ukrainian crisis – as far as I understand this topic is the main purpose of our meeting today. You certainly have many facts in your disposal. I will say some words and then you can ask your questions.
We are mainly worried about the problem of settlement, which must be exclusively political, diplomatic and peaceful. Over the last few months the Russian Federation jointly with many partners has undertaken insistent and specific steps in this direction.
There have been a lot of addresses from representatives of Russian and foreign mass media, which are accredited in Moscow, lately, all of them asking for an interview. We decided that it would be correct to organise a briefing. Thank you for responding to our invitation
I will not stop in detail on different aspects of the Ukrainian crisis – as far as I understand this topic is the main purpose of our meeting today. You certainly have many facts in your disposal. I will say some words and then you can ask your questions.
We are mainly worried about the problem of settlement, which must be exclusively political, diplomatic and peaceful. Over the last few months the Russian Federation jointly with many partners has undertaken insistent and specific steps in this direction.
26 july 2014
Judging by the relentless campaign of lies about Russia, which was organised by the US Administration, it seems that they are basing their foreign policy code of conduct on bare-faced lies more and more. For instance, let us take new statements by the Press Secretary of the US President, Josh Earnest, who has directly accused our country of the crash of the Malaysian Airlines jet over Ukraine.
It has become rather a habit for Washington not to provide any evidence, or even references to facts, which could be examined and commented on, to support their statements. The White House just mentions some “intelligence data”, which cannot be disclosed, and (this is really weird) “social media posts”. In other words, the Washington regime bases its statements on false, internet-based, anti-Russian assumptions. It is clear who is filling the web with such rubbish: Washington, and probably Kiev as well.
It has become rather a habit for Washington not to provide any evidence, or even references to facts, which could be examined and commented on, to support their statements. The White House just mentions some “intelligence data”, which cannot be disclosed, and (this is really weird) “social media posts”. In other words, the Washington regime bases its statements on false, internet-based, anti-Russian assumptions. It is clear who is filling the web with such rubbish: Washington, and probably Kiev as well.
26 july 2014
Having once again gone on Washington’s leash with regard to the issue of additional anti-Russian sanctions, the European Union punished itself as a result of its own ill-considered actions, having actually put our international cooperation in the area of security under threat.
Their additional sanctions list is direct evidence that the EU countries have taken a course to the full curtailing of their interaction with Russia on the issues of international and regional security, including the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, organised crime and other new challenges and threats. We are convinced that international terrorists will be enthusiastic about such decisions.
Their additional sanctions list is direct evidence that the EU countries have taken a course to the full curtailing of their interaction with Russia on the issues of international and regional security, including the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, organised crime and other new challenges and threats. We are convinced that international terrorists will be enthusiastic about such decisions.
25 july 2014
We should like to make the following remarks with regard to the new vilification campaign by the United States Administration against us, in connection with the Ukrainian crisis.
We reject all the unsupported public insinuations, which are retailed by the Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Marie Harf, day after day. During her news briefings, in the last few days, she has “chomped” through an entire basket of anti-Russian clichés, which Washington is stubbornly attempting to impose on international public opinion.
Among other things, she made a statement from the rostrum of the Department of State that Russia allegedly wanted to transfer heavy anti-aircraft armaments to the Donetsk and Lugansk insurgents. Moreover, she stated that Russia is shooting at Ukrainian military personnel from its territory. To be noted, all of this was accompanied by references to some “evidence”, which the United States allegedly has. Well, no “evidence” was provided, and that is no surprise. There are simply no facts or details which can support these false affirmations.
We reject all the unsupported public insinuations, which are retailed by the Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Marie Harf, day after day. During her news briefings, in the last few days, she has “chomped” through an entire basket of anti-Russian clichés, which Washington is stubbornly attempting to impose on international public opinion.
Among other things, she made a statement from the rostrum of the Department of State that Russia allegedly wanted to transfer heavy anti-aircraft armaments to the Donetsk and Lugansk insurgents. Moreover, she stated that Russia is shooting at Ukrainian military personnel from its territory. To be noted, all of this was accompanied by references to some “evidence”, which the United States allegedly has. Well, no “evidence” was provided, and that is no surprise. There are simply no facts or details which can support these false affirmations.
23 july 2014
Just like the rest of the world, Russia continues to mourn the loss of innocent lives in the MH17 crash. Those people fell victim to the war currently raging in Ukraine. Yet Kiev refuses to listen to reason and rejects any proposals of a ceasefire as repeatedly offered by the militia. It continues to bombard residential areas with heavy weapons, even in the immediate vicinity of the crash site.
Instead of cooperating with a thorough and unbiased international investigation into the causes of the accident, the results of which would then be made public with maximum transparency, the Kiev authorities daily and hourly come up with new, absurd and absolutely groundless accusations against Russia. Without notifying international organizations, Ukrainian security agencies are now reportedly working in secret with the data storage systems of Ukrainian air traffic control services, both military and civilian, as well as with their personnel. This is clearly getting in the way of an objective and unbiased investigation.
In fact, this is not the first time something like this has happened.
Instead of cooperating with a thorough and unbiased international investigation into the causes of the accident, the results of which would then be made public with maximum transparency, the Kiev authorities daily and hourly come up with new, absurd and absolutely groundless accusations against Russia. Without notifying international organizations, Ukrainian security agencies are now reportedly working in secret with the data storage systems of Ukrainian air traffic control services, both military and civilian, as well as with their personnel. This is clearly getting in the way of an objective and unbiased investigation.
In fact, this is not the first time something like this has happened.
22 july 2014
Vladimir Putin chaired a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin.
The discussion focussed on the maintenance of Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
* * *
Opening remarks at the Security Council meeting
VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Today we will consider the fundamental issues of maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country. We all understand how many political, ethnic, legal, social, economic and other aspects this topic encompasses.
The discussion focussed on the maintenance of Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
* * *
Opening remarks at the Security Council meeting
VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Today we will consider the fundamental issues of maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country. We all understand how many political, ethnic, legal, social, economic and other aspects this topic encompasses.
22 july 2014
On the 21 July the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution regarding the conduct of an international investigation into the crash of the Malaysian Boeing in Ukraine.
When working on the draft resolution prepared by Australia, Russia assumed it to be inadmissible to have prejudices, when determining those who are potentially guilty of the disaster and anticipating the results of this investigation.
We believe that any incident of resonance, like the crash of a passenger jet, must be investigated with an active role of the authoritative body, which is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), yet more so that the Security Council has already made such decisions in the past.
When working on the draft resolution prepared by Australia, Russia assumed it to be inadmissible to have prejudices, when determining those who are potentially guilty of the disaster and anticipating the results of this investigation.
We believe that any incident of resonance, like the crash of a passenger jet, must be investigated with an active role of the authoritative body, which is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), yet more so that the Security Council has already made such decisions in the past.
21 july 2014
VLADIMIR PUTIN: In response to the terrible tragedy that took place over Donetsk, I want to reiterate Russia’s position with regard to the current situation in Ukraine.
We have called repeatedly on all parties to the conflict to stop the bloodshed immediately and begin negotiations. I believe that if military operations had not resumed in eastern Ukraine on June 28, this tragedy probably could have been avoided.
At the same time, no one should and no one has the right to use this tragedy to pursue their own political goals. Rather than dividing us, tragedies of this sort should bring people together. All those who are responsible for the situation in the region must take greater responsibility before their own peoples and before the peoples of the countries whose citizens were killed in this disaster.
We have called repeatedly on all parties to the conflict to stop the bloodshed immediately and begin negotiations. I believe that if military operations had not resumed in eastern Ukraine on June 28, this tragedy probably could have been avoided.
At the same time, no one should and no one has the right to use this tragedy to pursue their own political goals. Rather than dividing us, tragedies of this sort should bring people together. All those who are responsible for the situation in the region must take greater responsibility before their own peoples and before the peoples of the countries whose citizens were killed in this disaster.