In an unannounced speech on television, the Russian president also asked Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and promised to respond to those who interfere with the Russian operation in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday a military operation in Ukraine to defend the separatists in the east of the country. ” I made the decision of a military operation “, he said in a surprise statement on television shortly before 3 a.m. GMT, denouncing once again a “ genocide ” orchestrated by Ukraine in the east of the country, arguing the call for help from the separatists announced in the night and the aggressive policy of NATO towards Russia and of which Ukraine would be the tool.
He addressed the Ukrainian soldiers saying to them: I call on you to lay down your arms “, ensuring that they can then ” leave the battlefield unhindered “. He assured that he did not want occupancy of Ukraine, but its demilitarization “.
Then he addressed those who would try to interfere with us (…) they must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead to consequences that you have never experienced before “.
” I am sure that the soldiers and officers of Russia will bravely fulfill their duty “, he said again, “ the security of the country is guaranteed “.
He gave no details as to the scale of the military operation, whether it would be limited to eastern Ukraine or whether it would be wider.
A few minutes earlier, in a final plea, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had urged the head of the Kremlin, from the UN Security Council in a crisis meeting, to urge him to ” prevent (his) troops from attacking Ukraine “.
(With AFP)