₦airaland Forum

The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podelyshev, on Thursday called on the international community to reframe its understanding of the war in Ukraine, insisting that any meaningful resolution must confront the “root causes” of the conflict, not merely its symptoms.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the ambassador rejected the Western narrative that Russia’s actions in February 2022 marked the beginning of an unprovoked war.

Instead, he offered a lengthy exposition of what he described as the true genesis of the crisis, tracing it back to the 2014 political upheaval in Kyiv.

“According to the narrative promoted by the Western countries, the conflict is considered to begin in February 2022, when Russia allegedly ‘launched an unprovoked and aggressive war against peaceful Ukraine’.
“In this context as presented by the Western countries, the events of February 2022 are usually analyzed without reference to what has occurred in and around Ukraine during the previous eight years starting in 2014,” Podelyshev said.

Calling the 2014 ouster of then-President Viktor Yanukovych an “unconstitutional coup d’état,” Podelyshev asserted that Western countries not only supported the opposition but actively enabled Ukraine’s descent into civil strife.

“The President of Ukraine, in order to avoid a bloody scenario, was forced to flee the country. The guarantors, represented by Germany, France, and Poland, remained silent, effectively encouraging the opposition to take further unconstitutional actions.”

He accused Ukraine’s post-2014 leadership of pursuing a deliberate campaign of marginalisation and discrimination against Russian-speaking citizens, outlawing the Russian language and dismantling cultural heritage.

“Imagine a situation where the Hausa, Fulani, or Yoruba languages were banned in Nigeria. In fact, more than half of the Ukrainian population spoke Russian.”

He added that revered Russian cultural and wartime symbols were torn down and replaced with monuments to controversial nationalist figures like Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych, whom he described as “war criminals” who “personally took part in the executions of tens of thousands of civilians.”
He portrayed the Minsk Agreements, signed between 2014 and 2015, as a missed opportunity for peace due to Ukraine’s alleged refusal to implement them in good faith.

Citing statements by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President François Hollande, Podelyshev argued that the West saw the Minsk process not as a path to peace but as a “temporary pause” to arm Ukraine for war.
“Ukraine, feeling the support of the West, refused to comply with [the Minsk Agreements] under various excuses. Over eight years, more than 10,000 civilians, including children, were killed as a result. Curiously, no one in the West cares to mention this.”
Describing the days leading up to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Podelyshev claimed it was a response to appeals for help from Donetsk and Luhansk, which Russia recognized as independent states just three days before launching its military operation.

“Russia launched its Special Military Operation in Ukraine. Therefore, there are no grounds for calling Russia’s actions an act of aggression. Russia did not initiate any military actions in Ukraine, but sought to put an end to them.”

He added that Russia’s actions were legal under international law, citing past UN resolutions and the case of Kosovo to argue that self-declared republics like Donetsk and Luhansk had the right to seek independence and security alliances with Russia.
“Russia possessed both the capacity and the obligation to respond. That is what Russia did, attempting to stop the hostilities initiated by the Kyiv regime in 2014.”

Podelyshev reiterated that Russia remains committed to a peaceful resolution but said that conditions must be met.

“What is required is not a temporary ceasefire, but a sustainable and lasting peace. First and foremost, threats to Russia’s security must be eliminated, particularly those associated with NATO’s eastward expansion.

“Kyiv and Brussels must accept that compromise is the only option. The European Union is seeking only a pause to give Kyiv time to prepare for continuing the war against Russia.”

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Like I always say, nobody tells a story to be at a fault. Drawing the analogy of banning Yoruba or Hausa in Nigeria with banning Russian language in Ukraine is like comparing apples to oranges.

A better analogy would've been saying that Tinubu declared war on Benin Rep because the WA country banned Yoruba speakers from speaking their language. This is an insane reason to fight another country.

The problem here is that Russia doesn't have regards for Ukraine. Now, Ukraine knows that fact and is taking all steps to demonstrate their sovereignty.

Easy boasting Mr Ambassador, some day your country will be powerless against smaller countries, where is the Roman Empire?

SadiqBabaSani:
Easy boasting Mr Ambassador, some day your country will be powerless against smaller countries, where is the Roman Empire?

What about your Western masters?

This is nothing but the truth. As a student in 2014, we did a group activity on the removal of the then president of Ukraine and what it might result to in the international politics.

It was obvious that the west has a hand in what was supposed to be an internal affair to Ukraine. Just two years later, there was alleged ill treatment of the Eastern Ukraine by the central government.

Now, everyone suddenly wants the military oppression to stop; the same people who looked away when the eastern part of Ukraine was being destroyed by the government of Ukraine.

Anyway, God bless Mother Russia!

Osariemen12:
This is nothing but the truth. As a student in 2014, we did a group activity on the removal of the then president of Ukraine and what it might result to in the international politics.

It was obvious that the west has a hand in what was supposed to be an internal affair to Ukraine. Just two years later, there was alleged ill treatment of the Eastern Ukraine by the central government.

Now, everyone suddenly wants the military oppression to stop; the same people who looked away when the eastern part of Ukraine was being destroyed by the government of Ukraine.

Anyway, God bless Mother Russia!

God bless you too my friend

Osariemen12:
This is nothing but the truth. As a student in 2014, we did a group activity on the removal of the then president of Ukraine and what it might result to in the international politics.

It was obvious that the west has a hand in what was supposed to be an internal affair to Ukraine. Just two years later, there was alleged ill treatment of the Eastern Ukraine by the central government.

Now, everyone suddenly wants the military oppression to stop; the same people who looked away when the eastern part of Ukraine was being destroyed by the government of Ukraine.

Anyway, God bless Mother Russia!

Western slaves won't get the truth behind this.....

The fall of Russia is imminent that I have seen, it shall not be far from now mark today's date

SmartPolician:
Like I always say, nobody tells a story to be at a fault. Drawing the analogy of banning Yoruba or Hausa in Nigeria with banning Russian language in Ukraine is like comparing apples to oranges.

A better analogy would've been saying that Tinubu declared war on Benin Rep because the WA country banned Yoruba speakers from speaking their language. This is an insane reason to fight another country.

The problem here is that Russia doesn't have regards for Ukraine. Now, Ukraine knows that fact and is taking all steps to demonstrate their sovereignty.

and what's wrong if the Yoruba people in Benin rep want their own independent country due to marginalization and tinubu decide to support them and to equally protect Nigeria against other west Africa countries who might want to attack us through Benin ....., lol

Mj4199:
What about your Western masters?

Jealousy will kill you there.

Mj4199:
Western slaves won't get the truth behind this.....

NO WESTERN SLAVES. IT IS ALL WITCHCRAFT.

SmartPolician:
Like I always say, nobody tells a story to be at a fault. Drawing the analogy of banning Yoruba or Hausa in Nigeria with banning Russian language in Ukraine is like comparing apples to oranges.

A better analogy would've been saying that Tinubu declared war on Benin Rep because the WA country banned Yoruba speakers from speaking their language. This is an insane reason to fight another country.

The problem here is that Russia doesn't have regards for Ukraine. Now, Ukraine knows that fact and is taking all steps to demonstrate their sovereignty.

Very well said.

SadiqBabaSani:
Easy boasting Mr Ambassador, some day your country will be powerless against smaller countries, where is the Roman Empire?

Roman descendants are still controlling the world till today. They even forced your parents to learn roman numerals and scientific elements in Roman

Where are all the supporters of evil that always support Putin and Russia invading Ukraine, now the truth has finally come out from Russian government.


So it was never about stopping Ukraine from joining NATO? Hahahahahaha


So because you wanted to help some Russians in Ukraine that called for your help, you then invaded the entire country to cause more harm and deaths?


If it was even about liberating Luhansk and Donestk, why didn't you arm those regions and help them sustain their independence from their region instead of invading the entire Ukraine?



Dear Putin, swallow your pride, accept your mistake, you were ill-informed and ill-advised to invade Ukraine unjustly and believe me the thousands of innocent people you caused their lives to be cut short will definitely not go unpunished, wait for it.




As for Europe and United Kingdom, do I pity them? NO! Muslim Jihadists overrunning their nations will definitely be their own rewards for the evil things they did to Africans, it will happen


And for Russia, a time will come when Ukraine will become more stronger than Russia and the children of Ukrainians you eliminated today with flimsy excuses will raise a sword of vengeance against your own children and the outcome will shock the world at that time, this must surely happen. Every form of man's inhumanity against fellow man can never go unpunished but some of you power-mongers don't remember this truth about life.