The Russian President, Wladimir Putinadmitted today in his speech at the virtual summit of G20 leaders that “we need to think about how we can stop this tragedy,” alluding to the war in Ukraine.
“Naturally, Military operations are always a tragedy for certain people and families, as well as for the country in general. “There is no doubt that we need to think about how we can stop this tragedy,” Putin said this during a speech broadcast on public television, adding that Russia has “never” refused to start peace negotiations with Kiev.
Putin recalled that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who issued a decree banning dialogue with Russia in order to end the conflict that Moscow started in February 2022.
He also referred to colleagues who were “shocked” by the consequences of Russian “aggression” against the neighboring country.
“I understand that war, the death of people cannot be otherwise. And the bloody coup in Ukraine in 2014, which led to the Kiev regime’s war against its own people in Donbass? “Isn’t that moving?” he said.
He added: “And the annihilation of the civilian population in Palestine, in the Gaza Strip, isn’t that impressive? And the fact that doctors have to operate on children (…), using scalpels on children’s bodies without anesthesia, is it.” It’s not impressive? Does it have no impact?”
“And when the Secretary General of the United Nations says that Gaza has become a great children’s cemetery, isn’t that moving?” he stressed.
Putin did not attend the last three G20 summits in Italy, Indonesia and last September in India. At the latter he was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.