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Russia's interests for the safety of its citizens are non-negotiable

President Vladimir Putin stressed on Wednesday (23/2), Russia's interests are non-negotiable, even though the West is punishing the red bear country with new sanctions.

In his Defender of the Fatherland Day address, Putin congratulated the Russian military and praised its combat readiness after he ordered the deployment of troops to Eastern Ukraine.

"Our country has always been open to direct and honest dialogue, seeking diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems," Putin said, as quoted by Channel News Asia.

But, "Russia's interests, the security of our citizens, are non-negotiable," he stressed

Putin's remarks came after the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, gave unanimous approval Tuesday to deploy "peacekeepers" to the two breakaway regions of Ukraine. The decision took effect immediately, according to member of Parliament Andrei Klishas.

"By agreeing to the use of armed forces abroad, we consider them to be peacekeepers, troops designed to maintain peace and stability in the republic (which is self-proclaimed in Eastern Ukraine)," said Valentina Matvienko, speaker of the Upper House of the Russian Parliament. reported by Reuters.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday evening (22/2), Putin laid out a number of stringent conditions if the West is to de-escalate the crisis in Eastern Ukraine.

He said pro-Western Ukraine should give up its ambition to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and maintain neutrality.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden announced a new package of sanctions against Russia, citing Moscow's recognition of the two breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine as a prelude to Russia's invasion of its neighbour.

In a brief speech Tuesday, Biden condemned President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk and allow the deployment of Russian troops to "maintain the peace" in the region.

"If Russia goes further with this invasion, we are ready to go further with sanctions," Biden said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

"Who in the name of God according to Putin gave him the right to declare a so-called new state on the territory that belongs to his neighbor?" the US president said.

"This is a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community."

The sanctions target Russia's sovereign debt as well as Russia's two major financial institutions, including the country's military bank, Biden revealed.

“That means, we have cut off the Russian government from Western financing. They can no longer collect money from the West and cannot trade their new debt in our markets or Europe," he said.

Not only that, “We will also impose sanctions on the Russian elite and their family members. They share the corrupt profits of Kremlin policies and must share the pain too," Biden said.

"This is the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as he (Putin) pointed out and asked permission to be able to do so from the Duma (Lower House of the Russian Parliament)," he said.

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Russia's interests for the safety of its citizens are non-negotiable

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