Recently, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted that "the 2014 Minsk agreement was an attempt to give time to Ukraine. It also used this time to become stronger as can be seen today. The Ukraine of 2014-2015 is not the modern Ukraine," Referring to Merkel's comments, Putin said, "It was absolutely unexpected for me. It's disappointing ... Trust almost dropped to zero." This only shows, he went on to say, "that launching the SMO [Special Military Operation] was the right decision".
Zelensky, a week before the war was launched, threatened to tear up the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, allowing Ukraine to develop nuclear weapons. That announcement was probably still ringing in Putin's ears when he started the SMO.
"Now, as to whether issues could be resolved through force and whether you can use force and stay on the side of good; would you like to say that 'good' forces should be helpless or defenceless? 'Good' should not be defenceless. 'Good' should be able to defend itself and that is our position." ~ Vladimir Putin, Press Conference, Feb. 22, 2022 Back in March, more than 40,000 Syrians registered to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, how many, if any, actually got permission to join the SMO is unknown. But Syria was undoubtedly saved by Russia in 2015-17 when it played a key role in defeating the CIA's proxy jihadist horde. Or as one Syrian reported; "Russian soldiers gave their blood for Syrian soil, and now it is time [for the Syrians] to help the brotherly [Russians]."...<<<Read More>>>...