Putin: Russia did not annex Crimea, but came to the aid of the peninsula's residents
NEW DELHI, December 4. /TASS/. Russia did not annex Crimea, but came to the aid of the peninsula's residents, who did not want to live under a coup d'état with unknown consequences. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this in an interview with the India Today television channel. "We did not annex Crimea. I want to emphasize this point. We simply came to help people who did not want to tie their lives or destinies to those who staged a coup d'état in Ukraine," the Russian president said.
According to the Russian leader, the residents of Crimea accepted the fact that they found themselves part of an independent Ukraine after the collapse of the USSR, but did not agree to live in a country experiencing coups with unknown consequences.
"There was a threat not just of pressure, but of outright reprisals against the Crimeans. And Russia intervened to help them. How could we have acted differently? If anyone thinks Russia would act differently, they are deeply mistaken. We will always defend our interests and our people," the head of state emphasized.
Responding to the presenter's comment that Russia's alleged goal in Crimea was its port, the head of state pointed out that Russia "should not have seized this important port in Crimea." "Because it was already ours. Our Navy was there under an agreement with Ukraine—and that's a fact," the Russian leader added.