Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday spoke at the virtual summit of the G20 major economies about ending the Russia-Ukraine war that has been going on for almost two years. He said that now the time has come to end the war with Ukraine.
Putin said it was important to think about how to prevent the “tragedy” of war in Ukraine. He said that we are ready for talks. Russia has never refused to participate in peace talks with Ukraine.
Putin said that peace talks have stopped only because of Ukrainian law. “Yes, of course, military action is always a tragedy,” Putin told the virtual G20 meeting convened by the current chair, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Putin said that leaders of many countries have said that they are shocked by Russia’s attack. I believe that, yes, this military operation is shocking. Military operations always bring tragedy. Now, the focus should be on preventing the tragedy of war in Ukraine.
In his speech, Putin also asked the G20 leaders sharp questions. Putin said that those shaken by the Ukraine war are not being affected by the deaths in Gaza.
“Yes, I understand that war can bring nothing but loss of life and shock,” Putin said. But isn’t the bloody coup in Ukraine in 2014 and the Kyiv regime’s subsequent war against its people in Donbas shocking?
Putin further asked in a questioning tone, isn’t the destruction of the civilian population in Palestine and Gaza Strip shocking today? Isn’t it shocking that doctors have to operate on children, perform abdominal surgery and use scalpels on the child’s body without giving anaesthesia?
Putin further asked whether it was not shocking that the Secretary General of the United Nations said that Gaza has turned into a vast children’s cemetery.
Earlier on Tuesday, a senior Russian official had said that Moscow could not co-exist with the current government in Kyiv and that it would continue its special military operation to “demilitarize” Ukraine.
Ukraine has vowed to fight Russia until the last Russian troops leave their territory. Russia’s Western allies have said they will continue to support Kyiv.
Russia attacked Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Both countries have suffered a lot in this war. Infrastructure and military equipment were destroyed. Thousands of people and soldiers from both sides have been killed in this war.
