Blinken announced Putin’s desire for complete subjugation of Ukraine

Anthony Blinken: Putin seeks to subjugate Ukraine, not exclude its entry into NATO

According to the US Secretary of State, the President of Russia would like to restore the country within the borders of the Russian Empire. Putin has previously denied the existence of such ambitions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements speak of his desire to subjugate Ukraine, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba (broadcast led State Department).

“From what we have seen over the past 24 hours, it is clear that it was never actually about [вступлении Украины в] NATO. Putin made it clear that the goal of all this is the complete subordination of Ukraine,” Blinken said. In his opinion, Putin would like to restore the Russian Empire.

“In Putin’s view, Ukraine is not a sovereign state that has the right to exist and be independent apart from its connection with Russia,” the US Secretary of State said.

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On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. He explained his decision by the refusal of the Ukrainian authorities to implement the Minsk agreements. On February 22, the Federation Council granted Putin’s request to allow the use of Russian armed forces in the republics.