Russia’s Putin claims had no choice, defends ‘noble’ operation in Ukraine

Moscow, Apr 12 (EFE).- President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he had “no other choice” than to launch what he termed a “noble” military operation in Ukraine, claiming it was necessary to “help” the people in the Donbas region.

“Obviously, we had no other choice, this is correct. And the fact that the goals will be achieved, there is no doubt about it,” Putin said during a visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome with his regional ally, Belarusian president Alexandr Lukashenko

“This is what will happen. There are no doubts. The goals are perfectly clear, they are noble,” Putin continued, as cited by Russia’s TASS news agency.

“The main goal is to help the people in Donbas, the people of Donbas, which we have recognized, and we had to do it, because Kyiv authorities, encouraged by the West, refused to implement the Minsk Agreements, aimed at peaceful resolution of Donbas’ problems.”

The Russian leader claimed that “neo-Nazi” ideology had taken hold in Ukraine, a trope that Moscow officials have repeated, without offering evidence, in the lead up to and following the military invasion, which began in late February. EFE

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