Putin:
Talking to Russia from position of strength is meaningless
Russia
is open to the rest of the world and ready for developing equal
partnership with other countries, said Vladimir Putin He dismissed
treatment Russia through strength and sanctions as ineffective and
warned against scheming.
RT,
4
December, 2014
“Talking
to Russia from a position of strength is meaningless,” said
Putin in his annual state of the nation address to the Federal
Assembly, stressing that the ‘deterrence policy’ towards Russia
is nothing new.
“The
deterrence policy was not invented yesterday, it has been always
conducted towards our country, for decades, if not centuries,” Putin
noted.
“Every
time somebody considers Russia is becoming too powerful and
independent, such instruments are turned on immediately,” said
Putin.
US manipulating foreign relations of Russia’s neighbors
The
US has always been, either directly or behind the scenes, affecting
relations between Russia and its neighbors, the president said.
“I’ve
mentioned our American friends for a good reason,” Putin
said. “Because
sometimes you don’t even know to whom it is better to talk to: the
governments of certain countries or directly with their American
patrons.”
ABM is a threat to US itself
Further
deployment of America’s global
anti-ballistic missile defense poses
a threat to the US and those European countries that agreed to host
it, because it builds up a dangerous illusion of invincibility, Putin
said.
“This
[ABM] constitutes a threat not only to the security of Russia, but to
the whole world, in view of the possible destabilization of the
strategic balance of powers. I believe this is dangerous for the US
itself, as it creates a dangerous illusion of invulnerability and
reinforces the tendency of unilateral, often ill-considered decisions
and additional risks,” Putin
said.
U.S. soldiers stand beside a U.S.
Patriot missile system at a Turkish military base in Gaziantep,
southeastern Turkey, October 10, 2014. (Reuters/Osman Orsal)
The European Phased Adaptive Approach, a centerpiece of the US missile defense shield in Europe, implies deployment of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, all of which are fitted with the Aegis weapon and radar system, interceptor batteries in Poland and Romania, radar in Turkey, and a command center at Ramstein, Germany, a US Air Force base.
Russia
considers the system to be a major threat to its own security and has
threatened to increase its own arsenals and missile shield piercing
capabilities in response.
Russia says ‘no’ to arms race
Russia
will not get involved in an expensive
arms race,
the president said, yet the country’s defensive capacity in the new
conditions will be securely guaranteed.
“There’s
no doubt about that – consider it done. Russia has both the
capacity and creative decisions to do so,” Putin
said.
Yugoslavia-style disintegration scenario for Russia failed
Russia
has fought off attempts to initiate its disintegration, similar to
the scenario applied to the formerYugoslavia,
Putin said.
“They
would make us follow the Yugoslavian scenario, with its
disintegration and dismemberment of territory, with great relish and
with all the resultant tragic consequences for the peoples of Russia.
No way. We prevented it,” he
said.
Putin also recalled the fate of Adolf Hitler, who also planned to destroy Russia, and the Nazis’ misanthropic ideas.
“Everyone
should remember how that ended,” Putin
said.
Russia & weakness incompatible
Russia
cannot afford the liberty of being weak, Putin added.
“The
more we retreat and offer excuses, the more impudent become our
opponents, acting in the most cynical and aggressive manner,” Putin
said.
Putin
recalled the situation in the 1990s when Russia showed unprecedented
openness to international cooperation, but it faced “the
support of separatists from abroad: informational, political,
financial and from intelligence agencies, was absolutely evident.”
All
that was taking place at a time when Russia “considered
its recent enemies as close friends and nearly allies,” Putin
said.
Ukraine – our ‘brother nation’
Vladimir
Putin spelt out Russia’s special bond with Ukraine as being like
a “brother
nation” and
despite the recent tension between the two countries, this
relationship will not change.
"It
is well known that Russia has not only supported Ukraine and other
'brother republics' of the former USSR in their seeking sovereignty,
but also has contributed significantly to this process in early
1990s. Since then, our position has not changed. Each nation has an
inalienable right to its own development path," the
Russian president said.
Crimea’s reunification with Russia ‘historical’
The
Russian president stated that Crimea was
of huge civilizational and historical relevance for Russia. Putin
stated how Crimea was to Russia, what Table Mount is to Jews and
Judaism. He commented on how important as a spiritual reference the
peninsula has for the Russian people, noting that Prince Vladimir was
baptized in Crimea as a Christian, before he would eventually baptize
all Rus.
“Exactly
on these spiritual grounds our ancestors have perceived themselves as
a common nation at the first time and forever,”
Putin noted. “This
gives us all reasons to say that Crimea is of enormous sacral
importance for Russia,” he said with confidence, noting that “We
will take this so once and forever.”
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