West holding corrupt Kiev elites on the hook while seeking 'strategic defeat' of Russia: Highlights from Putin's statements

RT.com
22 Apr 2025, 09:04 GMT+10

The Russian president attended the "Small Homeland - the Strength of Russia" forum on Monday

Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on a wide range of challenges facing Russia, particularly its new and frontline regions, during his appearance at the "Small Homeland - the Strength of Russia" forum in Moscow on Monday.

Here are the key takeaways from the Russian leader's speech at the ceremony presenting the municipal award Sluzhenie (Service), his discussions with regional and municipal leaders from across the country, and multiple engagements with journalists.

Kiev spent decades plundering Donbass

President Putin accused Ukrainian authorities of systematically exploiting the Donbass region for decades, reiterating Moscow's goal to fully reintegrate the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, into Russia both politically and economically.

"Since the 1960s, nothing was invested [in these territories], nothing was developed. Now we understand clearly: they were only used for one thing - extracting resources and money from these regions and from these people," Putin said. "They stole the money, forgive my bluntness, and they're still keeping it in bank accounts abroad."

"We need to think about how to fulfill our duty to the people - especially those who supported the return to their historical homeland, Russia. And of course, we must respond in kind and support them. To resolve the problems that the territories face and that have been accumulating for decades," he added.

Failed attempts to inflict 'strategic defeat' on Russia

Putin stated that repeated attempts by Western nations to weaken or defeat Russia militarily or economically have failed. "It seems to me that the realization is now setting in - just as it did in the past, in historical times, when others tried to deliver a strategic defeat to Russia, including the Nazis," he said. "Now some Western leaders are beginning to understand this as well."

He praised Russian resilience and described the strength of the nation's people as the cornerstone of its continued sovereignty. "The courage, heroism and resilience of our people have always, at all times - we will soon celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War - have always been the foundation of Russia's survival. And today, this burden falls especially hard on the shoulders of those living in the border regions," Putin said.

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