Crimea
Tuesday 31 January 2023
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“This is such a monstrous shame that I will not even comment on the paranoia about our state’s nuclear plans.”
Using crass rhetoric, the former Russian president distorts WWII history to justify Russia’s war against Ukraine. -
"The events in Ukraine aren’t a clash between Moscow and Kyiv. It’s a military confrontation between NATO, above all the U.S. and Britain, and Russia.”
Western military aid provided to Ukraine for defense does not change the fact Russia launched the war. Russia is not the victim. -
"Russian-Chinese cooperation is experiencing the best period in its history, bilateral relations ... are built on a solid foundation ... of mutual support in matters affecting each other's fundamental interests. First of all, we are talking about the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity."
China does not recognize or support Russia's illegal attempts to annex five regions of Ukraine and has been forced to participate in Western sanctions. -
"These attempts (to isolate Russia) are futile. These vain attempts by our Western colleagues have not found any material embodiment."
Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and disregard of the world order increasingly make the country an international pariah. -
“The European Union, which participates in multi-billion-dollar financing and arms supplies to Ukraine, is thus trying to cover its own involvement in mass cases of war crimes committed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
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“All personnel, weapons, and military equipment of the group have been withdrawn to the left bank.”
In defeat and retreat from Kherson, Russian troops were forced to leave behind tanks, infantry vehicles, rocket launchers and ammunition. -
“Ukraine used this humanitarian [grain shipment] corridor to attempt to attack the Russian Black Sea Fleet.”
Although Russian warships were attacked in Sevastopol, they are military targets and separate from an agreement to safely ship Ukrainian grain from three Black Sea ports. -
"Russia and the states of Islamic civilization are long-standing reliable partners, cooperating in ensuring security and stability, and in solving economic problems."
Russia’s treatment of Muslims has not been so welcoming. Just ask the indigenous Tatars in occupied Crimea. -
"[Economic] development continues here ... Despite the difficult times, the country is developing and will continue to develop."
Western sanctions are punishing Russia’s economic output, which is projected to further shrink in 2023. -
“… [T]he situation around [Crimea] tightened and loosened until March 16, 2014, when there was a referendum in Crimea and over 96 percent of the voters favored Crimea’s accession to Russia."
In March 2014, 100 United Nations members said Russia’s referendum in Crimea had no validity. China abstained but has not recognized Crimea's annexation. -
“Washington has never hesitated to use force under fabricated pretexts … using false claims to justify its actions such as the need to protect the lives and well-being of U.S. citizens.”
To defend Russia’s war on Ukraine, Lavrov misrepresents why the United States overthrew Panama’s military dictator, Manuel Noriega, in 1989. -
“Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake).”
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, echoes Kremlin propaganda. In fact, Russia illegally annexed Crimea.