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They initially claimed they weren’t going into Ukraine.
They most likely only plan to long-term occupy the parts of Ukraine where the majority of the population still living there supports them. The last thing that Russia wants is fighting a never ending insurgency in Lviv oblast.
I can say the words "Dog Cat Microwave Book" and they would be clear, and make about as much sense as the idea of "denazifying" Ukraine.
Calling out one obvious lie: "It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."
In September Russia "held" a "referendum" in occupied territories and immediately adjusted the Constitution to include the occupied territories.
Isn't that true for any politician?
> Calling out one obvious lie: "It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."
Obvious lie? That's fortunate for your opinion.
>In September Russia "held" a "referendum" in occupied territories and immediately adjusted the Constitution to include the occupied territories.
Yes, not Ukraine, only the occupied territories.
The fact that my original comment was flagged shows just how deep the U.S. has fallen for its own propaganda.
The “occupied territories” are, more fully, Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Which clearly shows that, under the usual meanings of words, Putin’s claim of no intent to occupy “Ukrainian territory” was a lie.
Now, obviously, under a definition where any territory Russia occupies is, ipso facto, not “Ukrainian”, Putin’s claim is tautologically true, but also devoid of all meaning. Putin’s statements, therefore, provide no actual guidance on his intentions, since his actual actions demonstrate that, to the extent that they have any meaning at all rather than being stated just for emotional impact at the time they are uttered, it has nothing to do with the usual meanings of the actual words used and can only be reconstructed retrospectively after observing the actions he actually takes and trying to fit what meaning the words could have around that.
Which, it should go without saying, is the polar opposite of being “clear”.
I mean, it is not a “lie” once you accept Putin’s…rather, shall we say, slippery…concept of “Ukrainian territory”.
IF it was part of the DPR/LPR (like Crimea, earlier) Russia didn’t consider it “Ukrainian territory”…or vaguely claimed by them despite never having been controlled by them, or just somewhere Russia felt like occupying, for that matter.