MOSCOW: The Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that his country is not planning to go to war with the Ukrainian people, but it may deploy forces in the crises-hit country only if any attempts are made to target Ukrainian civilians, particularly ethnic Russians.
“We are not going to a war against the Ukrainian people,” the Russia president told media representatives on Tuesday.
“I want you to understand it unambiguously. If we do take a decision, it would only be to protect Ukrainian citizens. Let anybody in the military dare, and they’d be shooting their own people, who would stand up in front of us. Shoot at women and children. I’d like to see anyone try and order such a thing in Ukraine,” Putin said.
The Russia president said that there is no need yet for sending Russian military forces to Ukraine, though the Russian parliament on Saturday unanimously approved his request.
Moreover, Putin dismissed the accusations that Russia is acting illegitimately as far as its stance on Ukraine is concerned. He stated that even if Russia does use force in Ukraine, it would not violate international law.
The Russian president accused the United States and its allies of having no regard to legitimacy, when they use military force in pursuit of their own national interests.
Talking about the sanctions Russia faces over Ukraine, Putin said that those threatening them should think of the consequences to themselves if they follow that path. He said that in an interconnected world a country may hurt another country if it wishes, but it would be damaged too.
