A Kremlin spokesman told Russian news agencies on Sunday that Russia has launched what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine out of concern that peace agreements between Kiev and Russian-backed separatists are being ignored.
President Vladimir Putin this week lamented the failure to implement the Minsk agreements – a ceasefire and constitutional reform between Kiev and Russian-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine – signed between Russia, France and Germany in 2014 and 2015 at the start of the conflict with Ukraine.
Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating the agreement.
Asked by a journalist whether he understood that Russia had been “misled” about the Minsk agreements, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “Of course, over time it became obvious.”
“And again, President Putin and our representatives have repeatedly said this,” Peskov quoted the TASS news agency. “But all this was ignored by other participants in the negotiation process.”
“This is exactly the precursor to a special military operation.”
On Friday, Putin was asked about comments by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of the deal’s proponents, that she said in an interview with Zeit magazine published Wednesday that the 2014 deal was “an attempt to give Ukraine time” and used it to transform into Ukraine. They can defend themselves better.
Russian media and politicians interpreted this as Merkel’s betrayal.
source: Noticias
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