21st January, 2022
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has publicly denied the rhetoric of Western governments that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine, describing it as “simply a work event.”
“I believe implicitly that this is a work event. Any speculation that this indicates an imminent annexation of Ukraine is entirely unfounded.”
Western powers have been united in their condemnation of Russia’s military build-up at the border, threatening them with severe retaliation should they advance into Ukrainian territory any further than they already have done over the last 8 years.
“Nobody told me that it was against the rules,” said Putin at a recent press conference when pressed on the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
He continued: "My memory is of going out into Sevastapol for about 26 days, and talking to staff, thanking staff. I then went back to my office and continued my work.
"I carry full responsibility for what took place, nobody said to me 'this is an incursion that's against the rules, in breach of what we're asking everybody else to do'."
A similar excuse was given after the poisoning of Alexai Nalvany in 2020, the 2018 Novichok poisonings in Salisbury, the invasion of Georgia in 2008, the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, Roman Tsepov, and Anna Politikovkaya in 2004, and after Putin parked in a handicapped spot outside a supermarket in 2003. The employee who asked him to move his car tragically shot himself in the back of the head 3 times and dumped himself in the river a few weeks later.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson lambasted President Putin after the interview and alleged it was a poor excuse for Russia’s actions.
“As ever, it shows you how completely out of touch with reality the Russian government actually is. It’s one rule for them, and one rule for the rest of us. If Putin had any decency as a leader, he would resign. Now please excuse me, I have a staff meeting on the bouncy castle.”
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