The top 10 points of Putin’s address

On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an extraordinary address to Russia’s Federal Assembly in which he discussed the situation in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. The entire text of the speech is available in Russian. Here are RBTH’s top 10 takeaways.

1. Crimea’s exclusion from Russia was a “blatant historical injustice”

Putin said the fact that the decision by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to transfer Crimea from Russia to Ukraine in 1954 was in violation of constitutional norms, even if the ones that existed at the time were not perfect.

“This decision was made with obvious violations of the constitutional norms, which existed even at that time. The issue was decided behind the scenes, behind closed doors,” Putin said.

“All these years, citizens and many public figures have repeatedly raised this issue: they have said that Crimea is a native Russian land and Sevastopol is a Russian city. Yes, we understood all this, and we felt it with our heart and soul, but it was necessary to proceed from the existing realities, and to create good relations with an independent Ukraine on a new basis,” he said.

“Crimea is our common heritage and a major factor of stability in the region. And this strategic area should be under strong, stable dominion, which, in fact, can be only Russian,” Putin concluded.

2. Russians in Ukraine have been subjected to “forced assimilation”

“Time and again, there were attempts to deprive the Russians of their historical memory, and sometimes of their mother tongue, to make them an object of forced assimilation,” Putin said, adding that the need to protect Russians from this kind of behavior has influenced Russia’s recent actions.

“Millions of Russian people, Russian-speaking citizens live and will continue to live in Ukraine, and Russia will always defend their interests by political, diplomatic, and legal means. However, primarily Ukraine itself, should be interested in the fact that the rights and interests of these people are secured – this is the guarantee of stability of the Ukrainian statehood and the territorial integrity of the country.”

3. Russia wants a viable Ukraine

Putin said that contrary to popular belief, Russia does not want Ukraine to fall apart.

“I want you to listen well, dear friends. Do not believe those who are trying to scare you with Russia, those who are shouting that other regions will follow Crimea. We do not want the division of Ukraine. We do not need this,” Putin said.

4. The coup in Kiev was carried out by nationalists

Putin continued to place the blame for the violence in Kiev in late February on the actions of extremist groups with Fascist beliefs.

“Nationalists, neo-Nazis, anti-Semites and Russophobes were the main executors of the coup, and even today, they largely determine the life in Ukraine,” Putin said.

5. The current government in Kyev is illegitimate

According to Putin, the members of the interim government in Ukraine are not legitimate officials and so there is no government to negotiate with.

“It is also clear that there is no legitimate executive power in Ukraine yet, there is no one to talk to,” Putin said.

“Many state agencies have been usurped by self-appointed imposters, at that, they do not control the country, and very often, and I want to stress this, they find themselves under the control of radicals. Even to get an appointment with some ministers of the current government, you have to get the permission of militants of Maidan, this is not a joke, this is the reality today.”

6. The West’s reaction to the situation in Ukraine and Crimea is “rude” and “unprofessional”

Putin does not appreciate the moves made by the United States and the EU in reaction to the revolution Kiev and the referendum in Crimea.

“In the case of Ukraine, our Western partners have crossed the line, they were rude, irresponsible and unprofessional,” Putin said, adding that in the case of Crimea, Western countries were aware of the Russians living there and the region’s ties to Russia. “Russia found itself on a line, from which it could not retreat,” Putin said.

7. Russia is not against cooperation with NATO

Commenting on the statement that Ukraine could expand cooperation with NATO, Putin said:  “We are not against cooperation with NATO, not at all, what we are opposed to, is the fact that a military alliance – in all the internal processes, it still remains a military organization – runs the show next to our house, or on our historical territories.”

8. Crimea is a lot like Kosovo

Putin called the statements made by the EU and U.S. that Russia is violating international law “amazing cynicism.” According to Putin, the situation in Crimea is similar to the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by the Western powers.

He cited the decision of the International Court of Justice on this matter: “There is no general prohibition on the unilateral declaration of independence, arising from the practices of the Security Council. The general international law contains no applicable prohibition of declarations of independence.”

Putin also cited the declaration adopted by the United States in connection with the situation in Kosovo. The document acknowledged that the declaration of independence may violate the domestic laws of a country, but this does not mean that there is a violation of international law.

“They wrote this themselves, trumpeted it to the world, and now they are indignant. Why?” Putin said.

9. Russia is still being “contained” by Cold War-era policies

“Today, we are threatened with sanctions, but we already live with a series of restrictions, very significant for us, for our economy, and for our country,” Putin said.

He recalled that during the Cold War, the United States and other countries banned the selling of a large list of technologies and equipment to the Soviet Union and that this ban has been only formally abolished.

“In fact, many restrictions are still in force, in short, we have every reason to believe that the notorious policy of containment of Russia, which was carried out in the 18^th, and 19^th and in the 20^th century, continues today. They are constantly trying to drive us into some corner, because we have an independent position, because we defend this position, because we dare to call a spade a spade, and not play the hypocrite.”

10. Russia appreciates the support of China and India

“We are grateful to everyone who treats with understanding the steps we have taken in Crimea. We are grateful to the people of China, whose leadership considered and is considering the situation around Ukraine and Crimea in its historical and political entirety. We highly appreciate the restraint and objectivity of India,” Putin said.

Read more: Assessing the cost of Crimea

He also appealed to the Germans and reminded them that when East and West Germany decided to unite, not all countries supported this initiative, but the Soviet Union fully supported the historic move.

“I am sure you have not forgotten this, and I hope that the citizens of Germany will also support the aspirations of the Russian world, of historical Russia to restore its unity,” Putin said.

Based on materials from Interfax and RIA Novosti.

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