I'll say it again: Putin has the gravitas of a statesman, something which Biden partially lacks, and Zelensky lacks entirely. The gay jewish comedian may be a good actor, but his role as a puppet is unmistakable. This comes out even more when they interact with other world leaders -- Putin is a man among equals, while Zelensky is obviously beta.
first, Putin:
“We did everything possible to solve the problem by peaceful means. We were patiently negotiating, but a completely different scenario was being prepared behind our backs.”
“The countries of the West were stalling for time, were engaged in chicanery, encouraged neo-Nazis to commit terrorist actions in Donbass.
“In today’s world there shouldn’t be a division into civilized countries and everyone else. We were open to dialogue with the West. But in response we received an inarticulate or hypocritical reaction.
“But there were also concrete measures – the deployment of NATO contingents around Russia’s borders. The U.S. has hundreds of bases around the world. <…>
“I want to emphasize – they were the ones who started the war, and we used force and will use force to stop it.”
“Those who planned the new attack on the Donbass clearly understood that the next target was a strike on Crimea and Sevastopol.”
“We are defending people’s lives, our own home. And the West has spent over $150 billion in pandering to the Kiev regime. And the poorest countries were allocated $60 billion for 2022. <…>
“We are not at war with the people of Ukraine, they have become hostages of their Western masters. For decades they have been destroying Ukrainian industry. Under such conditions it is easy to draw material for military operations. People have been turned into expendable supplies.”
“Responsibility lies entirely with the Western elites and the Kiev regime.
“The more long-range Western systems come in, the further we will be forced to push the threat away from our borders.”
“The goal of the West is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. To finish us off. That’s exactly how we understand it all. It’s about the existence of our country. But they cannot fail to understand that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield, so they launch information attacks. They are targeting the younger generation.
“Look at what they are doing in the West. Pedophilia is becoming the norm, priests are approving same-sex marriages.
“Adults have the right to live as they wish. No one invades privacy, and we’re not going to do that. But look at the books of the world’s religions – it says it all. Including that the family is the union of a man and a woman. But the sacred texts are also being questioned.”
“The elites are going mad, and there is, as they say, no cure.
“We have begun a program to develop new regions. This includes the revival of jobs, ports on the Sea of Azov, building roads, as we did in Crimea.”
“The West has launched an economic front against us. But it has not achieved anything and will not achieve anything.
The initiators of the sanctions punish themselves: they provoked a rise in prices, loss of jobs. And they tell their citizens that the Russians are to blame.”
“Anti-Russian sanctions are only a means. And the goal is to “make our citizens suffer” – this is a quotation. Such humanists.”
“But the Russian economy turned out to be stronger than they believed in the West. We ensured the stability of the economic situation. We prevented a deficit, supported entrepreneurs and the financial system.
“We need to eliminate all interdepartmental contradictions, all this nonsense. Everything is for the goal! Everything for the result! Everything must be aimed at this. <…>”
At the beginning of February there was a statement from NATO demanding Russia to return to compliance with strategic arms treaties, allowing inspections of our military facilities. <…> In modern conditions of today’s confrontation it sounds like some nonsense. In our turn, we are not allowed to conduct inspections. Every time they create some bureaucratic obstacles”
“The situation after 1945 has changed. But it is unacceptable for the U.S. to reshape the world order in its own selfish interests. And now they are issuing ultimatums.”
“Under these circumstances, I am forced to say that Russia is suspending its participation in the START treaty. I repeat: it is not withdrawing from the treaty, it is suspending it.
and a summary for Biden:
>Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become a test for the United States and European countries. But “a coalition of 50 countries has been created,” and it will support Ukraine until its victory;
> NATO has preserved its unity;
>Putin allegedly thought that he was stronger than ever, but he was faced with the iron will of all countries, whose struggle was headed by Zelensky;
>If Russia attacks at least one NATO country, it will be regarded as an attack on the entire bloc. We will defend every inch of NATO territory.
>We must be honest. The protection of freedom is a very long process and Ukraine continues to fight for it. This may take a long time and there may be many more losses;
>sanctions pressure will continue, as the West cannot allow Russia to gain the upper hand.