Putin Warns 'Countries' Against Interference with Russian Actions in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he had made the decision to hold a special military operation in response to the address of leaders of Donbass republics.

The Russian leader went ahead to warn any county against interfering with the operation, promising decisive action that will ensure consequences never experienced before.

"People’s republics of Donbass approached Russia with a request for help. In connection therewith, <…> I made the decision to hold a special military operation. Its goal is to protect the people that are subjected to abuse, genocide from the Kiev regime for eight years, and to this end we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and put to justice those that committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals," Putin said in a television address.

Justice and truth are on Russia’s side, President Vladimir Putin said in the special television address.

"The welfare, the very existence of entire countries and peoples, their success and health are always originating from the strong root system of culture and values, experience and traditions of ancestors, directly depending on abilities to quickly adapt to continuously changing life, consolidation of the society, its readiness to consolidate and gather all forces together for moving forward," Putin said.

"Forces are always needed but they can be of different quality," the Russian leader said. "And we know the real strength is in justice and truth that are on our side," he added.

Warning

The Russian President warned in the same speech announcing the military operation in Ukraine that countries that interfere with Russian actions will face "consequences you have never seen," The Associated Press reported. 

Putin says the operation is to protect citizens from Ukraine aggression and to demilitarize the country, a continuation of the disinformation about which western allies have been warning.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday that only Russia is to blame for an attack on Ukraine. 

"Russia's attack on Ukraine is tantamount to an attack on the U.N. and every member state in the chamber tonight," she said, saying a full-scale invasion is imminent. 

Putin blamed NATO for the escalation because the defense bloc wouldn't give guarantees of security and prevent Ukraine from joining, according to the AP.