For the United States and its allies, this is the so-called policy of containing Russia, obvious geopolitical dividends, and for our country it is ultimately a matter of life and death, a matter of our historical future as a people. And this is not an exaggeration. That's right. This is a real threat not just to our interests, but to the very existence of our state and its sovereignty. This is the red line that I have repeatedly spoken about. In this regard, I would like to say a few words about the situation in Donbass. We can see that the forces that staged a coup d'état in Ukraine in 2014, seized power and are holding it with the help of decorative election procedures, have finally abandoned a peaceful settlement of the conflict. For eight years, an infinitely long eight years, we have been doing everything possible to resolve the situation by peaceful political means. As I said in my previous address, it is impossible to look at what is happening there without compassion. It was simply impossible to tolerate all this. It was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare, the genocide against millions of people living there, who rely only on Russia, hope only on you and me. It was these aspirations, feelings, and people's pain that were the main motive for us to make the decision to recognize the people's republics of Donbass. This, I think, is important to emphasise. In order to achieve their own goals, the leading NATO countries support extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine, who, in turn, will never forgive the residents of Kromsk and Sevastopol for their free choice to reunite with Russia. They, of course, will go to Crimea, just as they did to Donbass, with a war, in order to kill, as they killed defenseless people, punishers from gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, Hitler's accomplices during the Great Patriotic War. They openly declare that they lay claim to a number of other Russian territories. The entire course of events and the analysis of incoming information shows that a clash between Russia and these forces is inevitable. It's only a matter of time. They're preparing, they're waiting for the right time. Now they also claim to possess nuclear weapons. We will not allow them to do that. As I said earlier, after the collapse of the USSR, Russia accepted new geopolitical realities. We respect and will continue to treat all the newly formed countries in the post-Soviet space. We respect and will continue to respect their sovereignty. An example of this is the assistance that we provided to Kazakhstan, which faced tragic events, with a challenge to its statehood and integrity. But Russia cannot feel safe, develop, or exist with a constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine. Let me remind you that in 2000-2005 we gave a military rebuff to terrorists in the Caucasus, defended the integrity of our state and preserved Russia. In 2014, Crimeans and Sevastopol residents were supported. In 2015, they used the armed forces to put a reliable barrier to the infiltration of terrorists from Syria into Russia. We had no other way to protect ourselves. The same thing is happening now. You and I have simply been left with no other opportunity to protect Russia and our people, except for the one that we will have to use today. Circumstances require us to act decisively and immediately. The People's Republics of Donbass appealed to Russia for help. In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 of this year, I have decided to conduct a special military operation. Its goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. And to this end, we will strive for the demilitarization and demobilization of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who have committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation. At the same time, our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force. At the same time, we have heard that the West has recently been saying more and more often that the documents signed by the Soviet totalitarian regime, which consolidate the results of World War II, should no longer be implemented. What is the answer to this? The results of World War II, as well as the sacrifices made by our people on the altar of victory over Nazism, are sacred. But this does not contradict the high values of human rights and freedoms, based on the realities that have developed today over all the post-war decades. Nor does it abolish the right of a nation to self-determination, enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter. Let me remind you that not during the creation of the USSR or after World War II, no one ever asked the people who lived in certain territories that are part of modern Ukraine how they wanted to arrange their lives. Freedom is at the heart of our policy. Freedom of choice for all to determine their own future and the future of their children. And we consider it important that this right, the right to choose, can be used by all peoples living on the territory of today's Ukraine. In this regard, I appeal to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2014, Russia was obliged to protect the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol from what you call Nazis. The people of Crimea and Sevastopol have made their choice to be with their historical homeland, with Russia. And we supported it. Again, we just couldn't do otherwise. Today's events are not related to the desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They are related to the protection of Russia itself from those who have taken Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people. To reiterate, our actions are self-defense against the threats posed to us and against an even greater disaster than what is happening today. No matter how difficult it may be, I ask you to understand this and call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, not to allow anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relations, but to build them independently, so that this creates the necessary conditions for overcoming all problems and, despite the existence of state borders, strengthens us from within as a whole. I believe in it. This is our future. I must also appeal to the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Dear comrades, your fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis to defend our common Motherland, so that today's non-Nazis could seize power in Ukraine. You swore an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, not to the anti-people junti who are robbing Ukraine and mocking this very people. Do not carry out her criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your arms immediately and go home. Let me explain, all servicemen of the Ukrainian army who fulfill this requirement will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families. I would like to emphasise once again that all responsibility for the possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine. Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted from the outside to interfere in what is happening. Whoever tries to hinder us, let alone create threats to our country and our people, must know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to consequences that you have never faced before in your history. We are ready for any eventuality. All the necessary decisions have been taken in this regard. Dear citizens of Russia, Well-being, the very existence of an entire state of nations, their success and vitality always stem from the powerful root system of their culture and values, experience and traditions of their ancestors.