Iran Press/ Europe: On Wednesday, 24 February morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially announced a special military operation against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he had no other choice than to launch the military operation to stop the Ukrainian military’s interference in two eastern republics that have broken away from Ukraine. Russia perceives NATO’s eastward expansion as a threat.
Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine this week, arguing that it was defending the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which broke off from the eastern part of Ukraine shortly after the 2014 coup in Kyiv. Ukraine said the move was an act of unprovoked aggression.
In this regard, the Russian and Venezuelan Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Nicolas Maduro held a phone call, and they discussed issues of the development of bilateral strategic partnership and the implementation of joint projects, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday after their telephone conversation.
Putin added that the purpose of the Russian military operation in Ukraine was to defend the civilian population of Donbas, recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and Russian ownership of Crimea.
According to the Kremlin, the leaders agreed to continue exchanges and contacts at various levels. The telephone call was initiated by the Venezuelan side. 219
