Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia had fully paid off the debts owed by Ukraine after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but that Kiev had not fulfilled its obligations and had not returned the property of the Union to Russia.

In a historic speech addressed to the Russian people forgetting the recognition of the independence of the republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, the Russian president touched on the history of relations with Ukraine, and spoke about the history of the emergence of the Ukrainian state.

In his speech, Putin pointed out that Russia provided unprecedented financial support to Ukraine in the period from 1991 to 2013, and added that Russia had fully paid Ukraine’s share of the debt incurred by it after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but Kiev did not fulfill its obligations and did not return the property of the Soviet Union to Russia (as The legal heir of the Federation).

Putin explained that by the end of 1991 the debts of the Soviet Union to foreign countries and international funds amounted to about 100 billion dollars, and at first it was assumed that all the republics of the former Soviet Union would repay these debts, in proportion to the size of their economy, but Russia pledged to repay all these Soviet debts. In full, it fulfilled its promise and completed its payment in full in the year 2017, in return, the former Soviet republics had to give up their share of Soviet foreign assets in favor of Russia, and an agreement was reached in this regard with representatives of Ukraine in December 1994, but Kiev did not officially ratify this agreement She simply refused to comply with him.

Putin emphasized that despite the disintegration of the country (the Soviet Union) and deception and plunder of Russia, the Russian people recognized the independence of all the countries of the Soviet Union, and noted that Russia was cooperating with Ukraine in an impartial manner while respecting its interests.

The Russian president said that Ukraine (the Ukrainian budget) received various aid from Russia between 1991 and 2013, amounting to 250 billion dollars.

Putin added that instead of partnership in relations between Russia and Ukraine, Kiev was seeking advantages in these relations, and indicated that Ukraine was constantly blackmailing in the field of Russian energy transit (gas transit from Russia to Europe via Ukraine) and was stealing passing gas with its lands.

On Monday evening, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two decrees requiring Russia to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics from Ukraine.

Putin also signed with Pushilin and Pasechnik two separate agreements on friendship, cooperation and assistance between Russia on the one hand and the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk on the other.