DONETSK, December 4. /TASS/. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) considers Russia as a peacekeeper that provides real assistance without making any bold statements, DPR’s deputy parliament speaker said on Thursday.
“We see Russia’s role as a peacekeeper,” Denis Pushilin was quoted by the Novorossiya press center as saying in comments to President Vladimir Putin’s annual state of the nation address.
“In contrast to the West, Russia has never made any bold statements, but helped our republic by deed,” Pushilin said.
Russia has already sent eight humanitarian aid convoys to the war-torn region, and various experts consult DPR authorities on how to survive the economic blockade imposed by Kiev, he added.
In his address, Putin said “every nation has an inalienable sovereign right to its own path of development, the choice of allies,” political system, ways of building its economy and ensuring its security.
The Russian leader stressed that “Russia will always respect this.”
Commenting on Putin’s call for providing aid to Ukraine in carrying out economic reforms, Pushilin said this “directly concerns the West that has promised to do a lot for Ukraine but is not delivering on promises.”
Pushilin also said the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic would accept aid from other countries that support its “endeavors.”