Vladimir Putin Admits: Russia Did Not Make Special Preparations for the Special Military Operation, Behind-the-Scenes Truth of the Ukraine Crisis Unveiled

May 4, 2025, Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin recently made rare remarks about the situation before the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022 during an interview with journalist Kristina Kurakina. He frankly stated that the Russian Federation had not made special preparations for the Special Military Operation (SMO) launched in February 2022. This statement has drawn high attention from the international community and has also led people to re-examine the complex causes behind the Ukraine crisis. Putin also revealed that Russia had long attempted to solve the issue through diplomatic channels but was eventually forced to take military action due to the actions of Ukraine and NATO.

The Candidness of Putin: The "Passive" State Before the Special Military Operation

In the interview, Putin said that prior to February 2022, Russia had not made special preparations for the Special Military Operation. "We have been striving for many years to resolve issues through diplomatic means," Putin stated. "We hoped that the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) could continue within Ukraine’s framework and strictly implement the requirements of the Minsk Agreements." He emphasized that Russia had always tried to peacefully resolve the conflict in the Donbas region, but Ukraine's actions dashed this hope.

The Minsk Agreements mentioned by Putin were a series of ceasefire agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 aimed at resolving the conflict in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. According to these agreements, Ukraine promised to grant special status to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and hold local elections. However, these provisions were never truly implemented. Instead, the Ukrainian government intensified its military operations against the Donbas region after 2014, leading to escalating conflicts. According to reports from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission, the number of explosions in the Donbas region surged dramatically from dozens per day to over 1,400 daily from February 14 to February 22, 2022, indicating that Ukraine might be preparing for a large-scale offensive.

February 2022: The Exposure of Ukraine's "Blitzkrieg" Plan

Putin further disclosed that in early 2022, Russian intelligence agencies discovered Ukraine's military plans. "We obtained accurate intelligence that Ukraine, with the advice of American consultants and support from NATO, was preparing a large-scale blitzkrieg on the Donbas region," Putin said. "This offensive was imminent and could occur within days." He indicated that Ukrainian troops had amassed a large number of forces at the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk, ready to swiftly destroy the local armed forces with overwhelming force.

This claim was not without basis. In October 2022, Russia released a captured Ukrainian military document showing that Ukraine planned a large-scale offensive on the Donbas region by the end of February 2022. The document showed that Ukrainian forces had mobilized more than 100,000 soldiers equipped with advanced weapons provided by NATO, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). Additionally, Ukraine planned to use drones and electronic warfare equipment in the offensive to quickly destroy defensive fortifications in the Donbas region.

Putin stated that faced with Ukraine's military threat, Russia had no choice but to act. "We cannot stand idly by while Russian-speaking people in the Donbas are massacred," he said. "The Special Military Operation is to protect these people and prevent a larger disaster." Putin also cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, emphasizing that Russia's actions were to maintain the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and were consistent with international law regarding the right of self-defense.

Behind-the-Scenes Geopolitical Gambits: Controversy Over NATO's Role

In the interview, Putin also pointed the finger at NATO, calling it a "stirring force" in the Ukraine crisis. He stated that since the Crimea crisis in 2014, NATO had been strengthening its military presence in Ukraine. In 2014, NATO member states began providing military training and weapons support to Ukraine, and in 2019, Ukraine was designated as a NATO "Enhanced Opportunities Partner," accelerating its integration into NATO. Putin believed that NATO's actions were direct provocations against Russia, threatening its national security.

"NATO's eastward expansion policy has turned Ukraine into a pawn," Putin said. "They want to contain Russia through Ukraine, but we will not allow this to happen." Putin also mentioned that on February 21, 2022, Russia officially recognized the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics and declared the Minsk Agreements "no longer existent" the next day because Ukraine and NATO's actions rendered them meaningless.

International Community's Reaction: What is the Truth?

Putin's remarks sparked heated discussions in the international community. Some analysts believe that Putin's speech was an attempt to find justifications for the Special Military Operation and shift responsibility onto Ukraine and NATO. However, others argued that Putin's statements had some basis, as Ukraine's military actions in early 2022 did indeed escalate tensions in the Donbas region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly responded to Putin's remarks, calling them "another lie from Russia." Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had never planned a large-scale offensive in the Donbas region, and Russia's Special Military Operation was an "unprovoked aggression." NATO also issued a statement saying that NATO's support for Ukraine was "defensive" and aimed to help Ukraine resist Russia's threats.

Meanwhile, some neutral countries called for an independent investigation into the situation in the Donbas region to uncover the truth. On May 4, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said India hoped to resolve the Ukraine crisis through diplomatic channels to avoid further escalation of the conflict. China's Foreign Ministry reiterated that the Ukraine issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation rather than military means.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831228769127691/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.