Putin: They wanted to cause us but there was no need for nuclear in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin emphasizes in an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin that he hopes there will be no need for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
In the interview, which is included in a forthcoming Russian state television film entitled « Russia, Kremlin, Putin, 25 Years », for a quarter of a century that Putin was in the leadership of the country, whose excerpts were transmitted, the Russian president said.
« They wanted (the West) to challenge us, they wanted to make mistakes. We didn’t need to use the weapons you just mentioned. And I hope she doesn’t need it, « he answered a question by Zarubin.
The Russian president noted that Russia has the power and means to lead the conflict in Ukraine to a « reasonable end », with « the result that Russia needs ».
He also pointed out that the reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine is « inevitable », saying it is « a matter of time » despite the « tragedies » that took place in the war.
Putin accused the West that in the 2000s he sought to « divide » Russia into many pieces, noting that « our geopolitical opponent was acting a lot of sneaky, saying one thing and did something completely different. »
Referring to Minsk’s agreements, a series of agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 with the aim of ensuring the end of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Putin said the Russian side hoped that the agreements would be respected after their ratification, but « deceived ».
The Russian president added that the West used the agreements as a « pause » to « re -equip Ukraine and prepare for war with Russia ».
« This is also an experience for us. And in the future we must, of course, take into account this experience, « Putin underlined, adding that in 2014 Russia was » forced « to annex Crimea, because any other action would mean » tradition « of its people » to cut it « .
‘I always think about the subject of my succession’
Meanwhile, Putin, the longest -running Kremlin leader from the time of Joseph Stalin, says in the same interview that he always thinks about his succession and implied that there could be competition between several candidates.
Putin, Lieutenant Colonel of the KGB, who was presented by Boris Gelcin on the last day of 1999, was president from 1999 to 2008, then prime minister until 2012 and then president from 2012 until today.
« I always think about it, » said 72 -year -old Putin, answering a question about whether he is thinking who will succeed him. « In the end, the choice is of the people, the Russian people, » Putin said. « I think they should be a person, or rather enough faces, so that people have a choice. »
There is no clear successor to Putin, although based on the Russian Constitution, if the president is unable to fulfill his duties, the prime minister – now Michael Misutin – will take over the President’s powers.
