1. Straw Man: 43 instances
2. Ad Hominem: 26 instances
3. Hasty Generalization: 26 instances
4. Conspiracy theory: 21 instances
5. Argumentum in terrorem: 16 instances
6. Appeal to Authority: 15 instances
7. False Dilemma: 13 instances
8. Begging the Question: 13 instances
9. Bandwagon Fallacy: 9 instances
10. Cherry-picking: 8 instances
11. Appeal to Tradition: 7 instances
12. Slippery Slope: 6 instances
13. False Cause: 6 instances
14. Appeal to Emotion: 6 instances
15. Scapegoating: 4 instances
16. Appeal to Ignorance: 2 instances
17. Appeal to Nostalgia: 2 instances
18. No True Scotsman: 1 instance

Intentions Behind the Use of Fallacies

• Straw Man and Ad Hominem: These fallacies are used extensively to misrepresent opponents' arguments and attack their character rather than their policies. This indicates a deliberate attempt to weaken the credibility of the opposition rather than engage with their actual arguments.
• Hasty Generalization and Conspiracy theory: These suggest a pattern of drawing broad conclusions from limited evidence and suggesting hidden agendas without substantial proof. This can create a narrative that aligns with the speaker’s goals, regardless of the factual basis.
• Argumentum in terrorem and Appeal to Emotion: These are used to evoke strong emotional responses, often fear or anger, to rally support and justify actions. This indicates an attempt to manipulate the audience’s emotions to garner support for the speaker’s agenda.
• Bandwagon and Appeal to Authority: These suggest an attempt to legitimize the speaker’s arguments by appealing to popular opinion or authoritative figures, potentially masking the lack of substantial evidence.

Analysis of the Speaker's Sincerity

• Selective Presentation of Facts (Cherry-picking): The speaker selectively presents facts that support their narrative while ignoring contradictory evidence. This selective presentation indicates a strategic crafting of the narrative rather than a sincere and balanced discussion.
• Historical Revisionism: The speaker revisits historical events with a biased interpretation, which suggests a deliberate effort to shape the audience’s understanding in a way that supports the speaker’s current agenda.
• Language and Tone: The use of charged language, such as "globalist liberal elites" and "masterminded from outside," indicates a polemical tone aimed at polarizing the audience. This suggests that the speech is crafted to provoke a specific reaction rather than to inform or engage in genuine dialogue.

The Putin's goals appear to be multifaceted, aiming to:

1. Strengthening Domestic Support

• Appeal to Nationalism and Patriotism: By emphasizing Russia's sovereignty, the protection of Russian-speaking citizens, and portraying Russia as a victim of Western aggression, the speech aims to rally domestic support and strengthen national unity.
• Demonizing the Opposition: The use of Ad Hominem attacks and Straw Man fallacies against Western countries and Ukrainian leadership serves to consolidate support by creating a common external enemy.

2. Justifying Military Actions

• Framing the Conflict: The speech consistently frames the Ukrainian crisis and Russia’s military actions as defensive measures necessary to protect Russian interests and prevent genocide. This narrative is intended to justify the special military operation to both domestic and international audiences.
• Delegitimizing Ukrainian Government: By claiming that the Ukrainian government is illegitimate and that the 2014 events were a coup orchestrated by the West, the author seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian leadership and justify Russian actions in Ukraine.

3. Shaping International Perception

• Highlighting Western Hypocrisy: The speech frequently points out perceived double standards and hypocrisy of Western countries, aiming to erode their moral authority and credibility on the global stage.
• Promoting Multipolarity: By advocating for a multipolar world order and emphasizing the role of organizations like BRICS, CSTO, and SCO, the speech seeks to promote an alternative to the Western-dominated international system and garner support from non-Western countries.

4. Pressuring for Sanction Relief

• Condemning Sanctions: The speech portrays Western sanctions as unjust and harmful, not only to Russia but also to the global economy. By doing so, it aims to build a narrative that sanctions are counterproductive and should be lifted.
• Economic and Security Guarantees: The call for the recognition of new territorial realities and the removal of sanctions is a strategic move to normalize the situation on Russia's terms and alleviate economic pressures.

5. Influencing Negotiation Dynamics

• Setting Pre-conditions for Talks: By outlining specific conditions for peace negotiations, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops and Ukraine’s non-aligned status, the speech seeks to shape the terms of any future negotiations to Russia's advantage.
• Blaming the West and Kiev: By preemptively placing responsibility on Kiev and Western capitals for any failure to reach an agreement, the speech aims to gain a moral high ground in diplomatic discussions.

These strategic objectives are pursued through the use of rhetorical strategies and logical fallacies, indicating a calculated effort to manipulate both domestic and international audiences to achieve specific geopolitical and economic goals.

Based on the extensive use of logical fallacies, selective presentation of facts, and the overall tone of the speech, it is reasonable to conclude that Putin is likely pursuing a specific agenda rather than providing a sincere and balanced perspective. The fallacies serve to strengthen the narrative, evoke strong emotional responses, and discredit opposition, suggesting a deliberate attempt to manipulate the audience to achieve certain goals.

The evidence points that Putin is using these rhetorical strategies not merely to add weight to the speech, but rather to shape perceptions and rally support in a way that aligns with their strategic objectives. This indicates a calculated approach to influence the audience, potentially at the expense of presenting a fully truthful and balanced account.

The fallacies identification:

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: 

"Colleagues, good afternoon. I am pleased to welcome all of you and express my gratitude for your active work in the interests of Russia and our people."

"We last met in this extended format in November 2021, and since then, there have been many pivotal and even fateful events, without exaggeration, both in Russia and around the world. Therefore, I think it is important to assess the current situation in global and regional affairs, as well as set the appropriate tasks for the Foreign Ministry. All of these tasks are aimed at achieving our main goal: creating conditions for Russia’s sustainable development, ensuring its security, and improving the well-being of Russian families."

• Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): The speaker emphasizes "pivotal and even fateful events" to create a sense of urgency and importance, appealing to the audience's emotions.
• Begging the Question: The statement assumes that the tasks set for the Foreign Ministry are inherently aimed at achieving the main goal without providing evidence or logical steps showing how these tasks directly contribute to sustainable development, security, and well-being.

"In today’s challenging and unpredictable conditions, our work in this area demands that we concentrate our efforts, initiative, perseverance, and abilities not only to respond to current challenges, but also to set our own long-term agenda. We should propose possible solutions to fundamental issues that concern not only us, but also the entire international community. It is crucial to discuss them with our partners in an open and constructive manner."

• Loaded Language: Terms like "challenging and unpredictable conditions" and "concentrate our efforts" are emotionally charged, intended to stress the gravity of the situation.
• Appeal to Common Practice (Bandwagon Fallacy): By stating that the fundamental issues concern "not only us, but also the entire international community," the speaker implies that these issues should be prioritized because they are universally important, leveraging the idea that widespread concern validates their importance.

"Let me repeat: the world is changing rapidly. Global politics, the economy, and technological competition will never be the same as before. More countries are striving to strengthen their sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and national and cultural identity. The countries of the Global South and East are gaining prominence, and the role of Africa and Latin America is growing. Since the Soviet times, we have always acknowledged the importance of these regions, but today the dynamics have completely shifted, and this is becoming increasingly evident. The pace of transformation in Eurasia, where many significant integration projects are underway, has also accelerated significantly."

• Repetition: Repeating the idea that "the world is changing rapidly" is a rhetorical device to emphasize the point, but it does not necessarily provide new information or evidence.
• Appeal to Tradition (Argumentum ad Antiquitatem): By referencing the Soviet times and suggesting that Russia has always acknowledged the importance of certain regions, the speaker appeals to historical precedent as a justification for current actions or attitudes.
• Hasty Generalization: Claiming that the dynamics have "completely shifted" and that it is "becoming increasingly evident" without providing specific evidence or examples to support these broad claims.

"This new political and economic reality now serves as the foundation for the emerging multipolar and multilateral world order, and this is an inevitable process. It reflects the cultural and civilisational diversity that is inherently part of humanity, despite all attempts at artificial unification."

• Appeal to Inevitability: The statement that the emergence of a multipolar and multilateral world order is "an inevitable process" suggests that this development cannot be resisted or altered, which is a deterministic view that does not consider alternative outcomes or complexities.
• Appeal to Nature (Naturalistic Fallacy): Suggesting that the new world order "reflects the cultural and civilizational diversity" and is thus inherently good or desirable because it is a natural part of humanity, which is not necessarily true.

"These profound, system-wide changes certainly inspire optimism and hope because the establishment of multipolarity and multilateralism in international affairs, including respect for international law and broad representation, make it possible to resolve the most complex problems together for the common benefit, and to build mutually beneficial relations and cooperation between sovereign states for the sake of well-being and security of peoples."

• Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): The words "inspire optimism and hope" appeal to the audience's positive emotions without providing substantive evidence to support the claim.
• Begging the Question: The assumption that multipolarity and multilateralism will inherently lead to the resolution of complex problems and mutually beneficial relations is presented without concrete evidence or logical support.

"Such a vision for the future aligns with the aspirations of the vast majority of countries. This is evident, among other things, in the growing interest in the work of a universal association such as BRICS, which is based on a culture of trust-based dialogue, sovereign equality of its members and respect for each other. Under the Russian chairmanship this year, we will facilitate the smooth inclusion of new BRICS members in the association's working bodies."

• Bandwagon Fallacy: By claiming that the vision aligns with the aspirations of the vast majority of countries, the speaker suggests that it must be the correct or desirable approach because many others support it.
• Appeal to Popularity (Ad Populum): The growing interest in BRICS is used to justify the vision for the future, implying that because it is popular, it is therefore valid or beneficial.
• Slippery Slope: The suggestion that the smooth inclusion of new BRICS members will automatically lead to positive outcomes assumes a direct causal relationship without considering potential challenges or complications.

"I ask the Government and the Foreign Ministry to continue substantive work and dialogue with our partners to make sure that the BRICS summit in Kazan in October will have a considerable set of agreed decisions that will determine the direction of our cooperation in politics and security, the economy and finance, science, culture, sports and humanitarian ties."

• Bandwagon Fallacy: By emphasizing the importance of the BRICS summit and the need for agreed decisions, the speaker implies that participation in BRICS is inherently beneficial because other countries are involved. This appeal to popularity assumes that following the majority is the best course of action without necessarily providing specific evidence of the benefits.

"In general, I believe that the potential of BRICS will allow it to become one of the core regulatory institutions of the multipolar world order."

• Hasty Generalization: This statement makes a broad prediction about the future role of BRICS based on its current potential without sufficient evidence to support such a sweeping conclusion.
• Appeal to Wishful Thinking: The belief that BRICS will become a core regulatory institution reflects optimism or desire rather than concrete evidence or logical reasoning.

"I should note in this connection that international discussions are already underway regarding the parameters of interaction between states in a multipolar world and the democratisation of the entire system of international relations. In this regard, we have agreed on and adopted, together with our colleagues in the Commonwealth of Independent States, a joint document on international relations in a multipolar world. We have also invited our partners to discuss this subject at other international platforms, primarily in the SCO and BRICS."

• Appeal to Authority: By referencing agreements and documents adopted with the Commonwealth of Independent States, the speaker attempts to lend credibility to their position without necessarily providing substantive evidence or logical arguments.
• Bandwagon Fallacy: Again, the speaker suggests that because these discussions and agreements are happening among many states, they must be valid or beneficial.

"We are interested in fostering this dialogue within the UN, including on such a vital topic for all as the creation of an indivisible security system. In other words, global affairs must be based on the principle that the security of some cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of others."

• Straw Man: This statement oversimplifies and misrepresents the positions of other countries, suggesting that they seek security at the expense of others, which may not be the case. It sets up a position that is easier to attack rather than addressing the more complex realities of international security dynamics.

"Let me remind you that at the end of the 20th century, after the end of the intense military and ideological confrontation, the international community had a unique opportunity to build a reliable and just security order. This did not require much – simply the ability to listen to the opinions of all interested parties and a mutual willingness to take those opinions into account. Our country was determined to engage in constructive work of this nature."

• Appeal to Nostalgia: By referencing a supposed golden opportunity at the end of the 20th century, the speaker appeals to a romanticized past to argue for current positions, without addressing why those opportunities may not have been realized.
• False Cause: The statement implies that simply listening and willingness would have created a reliable security order, which overlooks other significant geopolitical, economic, and historical factors that influence international relations.

"However, a different approach prevailed. The Western powers, led by the United States, believed that they had won the Cold War and had the right to determine how the world should be organised. The practical manifestation of this outlook was the project of unlimited expansion of the North Atlantic bloc in space and time, despite the existence of alternative ideas for ensuring security in Europe."

• Ad Hominem: The critique of Western powers, especially the United States, shifts the focus from specific policies or actions to a broad criticism of motives and beliefs.
• Slippery Slope: The statement suggests that Western powers’ belief in their Cold War victory led directly to unchecked NATO expansion, which is an oversimplification of a complex process with multiple factors.

"They responded to our justified questions with excuses, claiming that there were no plans to attack Russia, and that the expansion of NATO was not directed against Russia. They effectively forgot about the promises made to the Soviet Union and later Russia in the late 1980s and early 1990s that the bloc would not accept new members. Even if they acknowledged those promises, they would grin and dismiss them as mere verbal assurances that were not legally binding."

• Straw Man: The speaker misrepresents NATO’s responses as mere excuses, which might not fully capture the nuance of the diplomatic interactions.
• Appeal to Hypocrisy (Tu Quoque): By highlighting alleged broken promises, the speaker attempts to undermine NATO’s credibility rather than addressing the substantive issues at hand.

"In the 1990s and later, we consistently pointed out the flawed approach taken by Western elites. Instead of simply criticising and warning them, we suggested options and constructive solutions, emphasising the need to develop a mechanism of European and global security that would be acceptable to all parties involved (I want to underscore this point). It would take too long to list all the initiatives advanced by Russia over the years."

• Appeal to Self-Righteousness: The speaker portrays Russia’s actions as consistently constructive and reasonable, without acknowledging any potential flaws or missteps.
• Argument from Ignorance: By stating that it would take too long to list all initiatives, the speaker avoids providing concrete evidence or examples, expecting the audience to take the claim on faith.

"Let us recall the idea of a European security treaty, which we proposed in 2008. In December 2021, a memorandum from the Russian Foreign Ministry was submitted to the United States and NATO, addressing the same issues."

• Appeal to Authority: Mentioning specific proposals like the European security treaty and the 2021 memorandum lends weight to the argument through the authority of formal diplomatic efforts, without detailing the contents or effectiveness of these proposals.

"However, all our repeated attempts (it is impossible to list them all) to convince our partners, as well as our explanations, appeals, warnings and requests, met with no response. Western countries, confident not so much in the righteousness of their cause as in their power and ability to impose whatever they wish on the rest of the world, simply disregarded other perspectives. At best, they proposed discussions on less significant matters (that did little to resolve the actual problems), or matters that only benefitted the West."

• Ad Hominem: Criticizing Western countries for their perceived confidence and power rather than engaging with the specific reasons for their responses or lack thereof.
• Straw Man: Suggesting that Western countries proposed discussions on less significant matters or self-beneficial topics oversimplifies and potentially misrepresents their diplomatic positions.

"It soon became clear that the Western concept, seen as the only viable option for security and prosperity in Europe and the world, was, in fact, ineffective. Let us recall the tragedy in the Balkans. While domestic issues had certainly contributed to the problems in former Yugoslavia, they were greatly exacerbated by intrusive external interference. At that time, the main principle of NATO diplomacy manifested itself most vividly – a deeply flawed principle that is of no use in addressing complex internal conflicts. In essence, this principle aims to assign blame to one party (often disliked by the West for various reasons) and unleash the full political, informational and military might of the West, including economic sanctions and restrictions against it."

• Hasty Generalization: Concluding that the Western concept is ineffective based on the specific case of the Balkans without considering other contexts where it might have worked differently.
• Straw Man: The characterization of NATO’s principle as assigning blame to one party and unleashing full might oversimplifies NATO’s complex diplomatic and military strategies.

"Later, these same approaches were applied in various countries, which we know all too well: Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan. These interventions have done nothing but worsen existing problems, ruin the lives of millions of people, destroy entire states, and create hubs of humanitarian and social disasters, as well as terrorist enclaves. In fact, no country in the world is immune from joining this tragic list."

• Slippery Slope: The assertion that interventions have done nothing but worsen problems and create disasters suggests a direct and inevitable chain of negative outcomes without acknowledging any potential positive impacts or nuances.
• Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): By focusing on the suffering and destruction caused by interventions, the speaker aims to evoke a strong emotional response, potentially clouding rational analysis.

"For example, the West is currently trying to brazenly meddle in the affairs of the Middle East. They previously held a monopoly over this region, and the consequences of their actions are now evident to everyone. The South Caucasus and Central Asia are also prime examples. Two years ago, at the NATO summit in Madrid, it was declared that the alliance would now deal with security issues not only in the Euro-Atlantic, but also in the Asia-Pacific region. They claim those areas cannot do without them. Clearly, this was an attempt to exert more pressure on those countries in the region whose development they have decided to restrain. As you know, Russia ranks high on this list."

• Straw Man: The speaker misrepresents the intentions of the West, suggesting they are "brazenly meddling" and aiming to restrain development, rather than addressing the stated reasons for Western involvement in these regions.
• Hasty Generalization: Broadly asserts that the consequences of Western actions are "evident to everyone" without providing specific evidence or acknowledging the complexity of regional dynamics.
• Argumentum in terrorem: By stating that the West is exerting pressure on regions including Russia, the speech aims to instill fear and justify a defensive stance.

"Let me also remind you that it was Washington that undermined strategic stability by unilaterally withdrawing from the treaties on anti-missile defence, on the elimination of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles and on open skies, and, together with its NATO satellites, dismantling the decades-old system of confidence-building measures and arms control in Europe."

• Scapegoating: Blames Washington for undermining strategic stability, simplifying complex international treaty dynamics and ignoring other factors.
• Ad Hominem: Refers to NATO allies as "satellites," diminishing their agency and implying subservience to the United States.

"Lastly, the self-centeredness and arrogance of Western countries have led us to a highly perilous situation today. We are inching dangerously close to a point of no return. Calls for a strategic defeat of Russia, which possesses the largest arsenals of nuclear weapons, demonstrate the extreme recklessness of Western politicians. They either fail to comprehend the magnitude of the threat they are creating or are simply consumed by their notion of invincibility and exceptionalism. Both scenarios can result in tragedy."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character of Western politicians by labeling them as self-centered and arrogant, rather than addressing their policies or actions directly.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Suggests that the actions of Western countries are leading to a highly perilous situation, aiming to provoke fear about the potential for nuclear conflict.

"It is evident that the entire system of Euro-Atlantic security is crumbling before our eyes. At present, it is practically non-existent and must be rebuilt. To achieve this, we must collaborate with interested countries, of which there are many, to develop our own strategies for ensuring security in Eurasia and then present them for broader international deliberation."

• Hasty Generalization: Claims that the entire Euro-Atlantic security system is crumbling without providing detailed evidence or considering the resilience and ongoing efforts within the system.
• Bandwagon Fallacy: Suggests that because "many" countries are interested in collaborating, this approach is inherently valid or superior.

"This is the task set in the Address to the Federal Assembly: to outline a vision for equal and indivisible security, mutually beneficial and equitable cooperation, and development on the Eurasian continent in the foreseeable future."

"What needs to be done to achieve this and on what principles? First, it is important to establish dialogue with all potential participants in this future security system. I would like to ask you to address the necessary issues with countries that are open to constructive interaction with Russia."

"During my recent visit to China, President Xi Jinping and I discussed this issue. It was noted that the Russian proposal is not contradictory, but rather complements and aligns with the basic principles of the Chinese global security initiative."

• Appeal to Authority: Citing the discussion with President Xi Jinping as a validation of the Russian proposal without providing substantive details on why it aligns with global security principles.

"Second, it is crucial to recognize that the future security architecture should be open to all Eurasian countries that wish to participate in its creation. 'For all' includes European and NATO countries as well. We share the same continent, and we must live and work together regardless of the circumstances. Geography cannot be changed."

"Yes, Russia's relations with the EU and many European countries have deteriorated, and it is important to emphasize that we are not to blame for that. The anti-Russia propaganda campaign, involving senior European politicians, is accompanied by speculation that Russia intends to attack Europe. I have addressed this issue before, and there is no need to repeat it again here. We all understand that these claims are baseless and serve only to justify an arms race."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the claims of European politicians as mere speculation and propaganda, rather than addressing the specific concerns or evidence they may have presented.
• Appeal to Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam): Asserts that the claims about Russia intending to attack Europe are baseless without providing evidence to refute them, shifting the burden of proof.

"In this context, I would like to make a brief digression. The threat to Europe does not come from Russia. The main threat to Europeans is their critical and increasing dependence on the United States in military, political, technological, ideological, and informational aspects. Europe is being marginalized in global economic development, plunged into the chaos of challenges such as migration, and losing international agency and cultural identity."

• False Dilemma (Either/Or Fallacy): Presents the situation as if Europe must choose between being threatened by Russia or being marginalized by dependence on the United States, ignoring other possible dynamics and solutions.
• Ad Hominem: Criticizes European dependence on the United States by implying it leads to chaos and loss of identity, attacking the relationship rather than addressing specific issues within it.

"Sometimes, I get the impression that European politicians and representatives of the European bureaucracy are more afraid of falling out of favor with Washington than losing the trust of their own people. The recent election to the European Parliament has also demonstrated this. European politicians tolerate humiliation, rudeness, and scandals, such as surveillance of European leaders, while the United States simply exploits them for its own benefit. For instance, they are forced to purchase expensive gas, which costs three to four times more in Europe than in the United States. Additionally, European countries are pressured to increase arms supplies to Ukraine. The demands are constant, and sanctions are readily imposed on European economic operators without any hesitation."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character and motives of European politicians, suggesting they prioritize favor with Washington over their own people's trust.
• Hasty Generalization: Generalizes the behavior and motivations of European politicians based on selective examples, without considering the diversity of political stances and actions within Europe.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Uses the fear of economic and political exploitation by the United States to criticize European policies, without addressing the complexities of international agreements and dependencies.

"They are now pressuring their partners to supply Ukraine with more weapons and increase their capacity for manufacturing artillery shells. Who will need these shells once the conflict in Ukraine ends? How does this ensure European military security? It is difficult to understand. The United States is investing in military technologies, particularly advanced future technologies such as space exploration, modern drones and strike systems based on new physical principles. The United States is funding areas that will shape the nature of future armed conflicts, as well as the military and political power of nations and their standing in the world. These countries are expected to invest in areas of interest to the United States. However, this does not expand European potential. Let them do as they wish. We will probably benefit from it, but, in effect, that is the situation."

• Slippery Slope: Implies that supplying Ukraine with weapons and increasing manufacturing capacity will inevitably lead to unnecessary stockpiles of artillery shells, without considering other potential outcomes or the strategic context.
• Appeal to Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam): Questions the rationale behind increasing military capacity without addressing the strategic reasons provided by proponents of these policies.

"If Europe wants to continue being an independent center of global development and a cultural and civilizational pole on our planet, it should definitely maintain good and friendly relations with Russia. Most importantly, we are ready for this."

• False Dilemma (Either/Or Fallacy): This suggests that Europe's only options are to either be an independent center of global development by maintaining good relations with Russia or fail to do so, ignoring the possibility of Europe achieving this through other alliances or independently.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Implies that failing to maintain good relations with Russia will prevent Europe from being an independent global center, leveraging fear of marginalization.
• Begging the Question: Assumes that maintaining good relations with Russia is inherently beneficial for Europe’s global development without providing evidence or logical reasoning to support why this would be the case.

"Indeed, politicians of truly European and global scale, who are patriots of their countries and nations, understand this simple and obvious fact. They think in terms of historical categories and are not mere followers of someone else's will and influence. Charles de Gaulle spoke about this during the post-war period. I vividly recall participating in a conversation in 1991 where German Chancellor Helmut Kohl emphasized the importance of partnership between Europe and Russia. I hope that new generations of European politicians will eventually restore this legacy."

• Appeal to Authority: The speaker references respected figures like Charles de Gaulle and Helmut Kohl to bolster the argument without providing substantive evidence. This relies on the authority of these historical figures to validate the claim.
• Appeal to Tradition (Argumentum ad Antiquitatem): By invoking historical figures and past conversations, the speaker implies that because these ideas were supported in the past, they are inherently valid today. This fallacy suggests that historical precedent alone is sufficient justification.
• Bandwagon Fallacy: The statement implies that "politicians of truly European and global scale" inherently understand and support the speaker's position, suggesting that the correctness of the stance is validated by the support of these influential individuals.
• No True Scotsman: By suggesting that only "true" patriots of European and global scale understand and agree with the speaker's perspective, it excludes those who disagree as not being true patriots or leaders, thereby dismissing their viewpoints without addressing them directly.
• Hasty Generalization: The speaker assumes that the views of Charles de Gaulle and Helmut Kohl represent a broad consensus among past and present European leaders without sufficient evidence. This generalization does not account for the diversity of opinions within European political thought.
• Appeal to Nostalgia: The speaker evokes a sense of nostalgia for a past era of European politics, suggesting that returning to these past ideals will resolve current issues. This emotional appeal relies on a romanticized view of history rather than a critical analysis of present circumstances.

"Speaking of the United States, the never-ending attempts by the current globalist liberal elites to spread their ideology worldwide, to maintain their imperial status and dominance in one way or another, are only further exhausting the country, leading to its degradation, and clearly contrary to the genuine interests of the American people. If it were not for this dead-end policy, driven by aggressive messianism based on the belief in their own superiority and exceptionalism, international relations would have long been stabilized."

• Ad Hominem: The phrase "current globalist liberal elites" is used pejoratively, attacking the character of a broad group rather than addressing specific policies or actions.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the intentions and actions of these elites by suggesting their goal is solely to maintain imperial dominance, ignoring other potential motives and outcomes.
• Hasty Generalization: Claims that these policies are leading to the degradation of the United States without providing sufficient evidence or acknowledging complexities.
• False Cause (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc): Implies that the lack of stability in international relations is directly caused by U.S. policies without considering other factors.

"Third, it is necessary to significantly intensify the dialogue process between multilateral organizations already operating in Eurasia to promote the idea of a Eurasian security system, above all such organizations as the Union State, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."

"We consider it possible that other influential Eurasian associations from Southeast Asia to the Middle East will join these processes in the future."

"Fourth, we believe that the time has come to start a broad discussion of a new system of bilateral and multilateral guarantees of collective security in Eurasia. At the same time, it is necessary, in the long term, to gradually phase out the military presence of external powers in the Eurasian region."

"Of course, we are aware that in the current situation this point may seem unrealistic, but that will change. However, if we build a reliable security system in the future, there will simply be no need for such a presence of out-of-region military contingents. To be honest, there no need today either – just occupation and that’s all."

• Begging the Question: Assumes that the presence of external military contingents is unnecessary and equivalent to occupation without providing evidence or rationale for this assumption.
• Appeal to Wishful Thinking: The belief that the situation will change without providing a concrete plan or evidence for how this change will occur.

"In the final analysis we believe that countries and regional structures in Eurasia should themselves identify specific areas of cooperation in joint security. Guided by this, they must also build a system of working institutions, mechanisms, and agreements that would really serve to achieve common stability and development goals."

"In this sense, we support our Belarusian friends’ initiative to develop a program document – a charter of multipolarity and diversity in the 21st century. It can formulate not only the framework principles of Eurasian architecture based on the essential norms of international law, but also, a strategic vision of the nature of multipolarity in a broader sense and multilateralism as a new system of international relations which would replace the Western-centric world. I consider it important and would like to ask you to thoroughly work out on this document with our partners and with all interested states. I will add that when discussing such complicated and comprehensive issues, we need as broad representation as possible and a consideration of different approaches and positions."

• Bandwagon Fallacy: The argument assumes that because there is support for the initiative from Belarus, it must be a good or effective idea.
• Appeal to Tradition (Argumentum ad Antiquitatem): Suggests that replacing the Western-centric world with a new system is inherently better because it follows "essential norms of international law" and a multipolar vision, without addressing the practicalities or challenges.

"Fifth, a crucial part of the Eurasian security and development system should definitely be the issues of the economy, social well-being, integration, and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as addressing such common problems as overcoming poverty, inequality, the climate, the environment, and developing mechanisms to respond to the threats of pandemics and crises in the global economy. All that is important."

"The West not only undermined the world’s military-political stability by its actions. It has compromised and weakened the key market institutions by its sanctions and trade wars. Using the IMF and the World Bank and twisting the climate agenda, it has been restraining the development of the Global South. Yielding in competition, even by the rules that the West has written for itself, it applies prohibitive barriers and all kinds of protectionism. Thus the United States has abandoned the World Trade Organization as an international trade regulator. Everything is blocked. Meanwhile, the pressure is exerted not only on competitors, but on their own satellites. Suffice it to see how they are now “siphoning off the juices” from the European economies which are teetering on the brink of recession."

• Scapegoating: Blames the West for a wide range of global issues without considering other contributing factors.
• Hasty Generalization: Makes broad claims about the impact of Western policies on global stability and development without providing detailed evidence.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions of the West, such as "twisting the climate agenda," to make them appear more harmful or deceitful than they might be.

"Western countries have frozen some of Russia's assets and currency reserves. Now they are trying to invent some legal justification for their irreversible appropriation. On the other hand, however, despite all the crooked lawyerism, theft will obviously remain theft and will not go unpunished."

• Ad Hominem: Uses derogatory language like "crooked lawyerism" to attack the character and motives of Western countries rather than addressing the legality and rationale behind their actions.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Suggests that the appropriation of assets will "not go unpunished," implying potential retaliation and aiming to provoke fear.

"The issue is even deeper. By stealing Russian assets, they will take one more step towards destroying the system that they created themselves and that for many decades ensured their prosperity, allowed them to consume more than they earn, and attracted money from all over the world through debts and liabilities. Now it is becoming clear to all countries, companies and sovereign wealth funds that their assets and reserves are far from safe, both legally and economically. And anyone could be the next in line for expropriation by the United States and the West, those foreign sovereign wealth funds could also be the one."

• Ad Hominem: Uses emotionally charged language like "stealing" and "destroying" to attack the actions of the West, rather than focusing on a rational critique of their policies.
• Slippery Slope: Suggests that the act of freezing Russian assets will inevitably lead to the destruction of the global financial system created by the West and a broad wave of expropriations without sufficient evidence to support this causal chain.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Raises the specter of widespread asset expropriation to create fear and distrust among other countries and financial institutions.
• False Cause (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc): Implies that the prosperity and financial system stability of the West are directly tied to the act of not expropriating assets, without considering other factors that contribute to economic stability.

"There is already a growing distrust of the financial system based on Western reserve currencies. There has appeared a certain outflow of funds from securities and bonds of Western countries, as well as from some European banks, which were until fairly recently considered to be absolutely reliable to put capital in. Now gold is also being taken out gold from those banks. And this is the right thing to do."

• Hasty Generalization: Generalizes that there is a growing distrust and outflow of funds based on unspecified evidence and anecdotal observations.
• Bandwagon Fallacy: Suggests that because some funds are being moved out of Western financial systems, it is the right course of action for everyone, appealing to the idea that if some are doing it, others should follow.
• Argumentum in terrorem: By stating that gold is being taken out and it is the right thing to do, the statement aims to induce fear and prompt similar actions without providing a balanced analysis of the situation.

"I believe that we need to seriously intensify the formation of effective and safe bilateral and multilateral foreign economic mechanisms as alternatives to those controlled by the West. This includes the expansion of settlements in national currencies, the creation of independent payment systems and the building of value chains that bypass the channels blocked or compromised by the West."

"Naturally, it is necessary to continue efforts to develop international transport corridors in Eurasia, the continent with Russia as its natural geographical core."

"Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I instruct you to assist as much as possible in developing international agreements in all these areas. They are extremely important for strengthening economic cooperation between our country and our partners. This should also give a new impetus to building a large Eurasian partnership, which, in essence, may become a socioeconomic basis for a new indivisible security system in Europe."

"Colleagues, Our proposals aim to establish a system where all nations can feel secure. With such a framework, we could approach today’s numerous conflicts in a different way, and more constructively. The issues of insecurity and mutual distrust are not limited to the Eurasian continent; rising tensions are evident worldwide. The interconnection and interdependence of our world are constantly apparent, with the Ukrainian crisis serving as a tragic example with its repercussions spreading across the globe."

• Hasty Generalization: Suggests that the proposed system will universally improve security without providing specific evidence or detailed plans to support this claim.
• Appeal to Fear: By referencing the Ukrainian crisis and its global repercussions, the speech appeals to fear to emphasize the urgency of the proposal.

"I want to clarify right away: the crisis involving Ukraine is not a conflict between two states or peoples stemming from issues between them. If that were the case, there is no doubt that Russians and Ukrainians, united by a shared history and culture, spiritual values, and millions of familial and human connections, would have found a fair resolution to any disputes and disagreements."

• False Dilemma: Suggests that the crisis can only be understood in terms of shared history and values, ignoring the complex political, economic, and social factors that contribute to the conflict.
• Begging the Question: Assumes that shared history and culture would naturally lead to resolution without addressing the real and complex issues at hand.

"Meanwhile, the situation is different as the roots of the conflict are not in bilateral relations. The events in Ukraine are a direct result of global and European developments from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. They stem from the aggressive, unrestrained, and utterly reckless policy that the West has been pursuing for many years, long before the special military operation began."

• Scapegoating: The paragraph blames the West entirely for the crisis in Ukraine, claiming that it stems from Western policies without acknowledging the significant role that internal Ukrainian factors and Russia's actions have played. This perspective ignores the complex internal dynamics within Ukraine, such as the Euromaidan protests, the political decisions of Ukrainian leaders, and the annexation of Crimea by Russia​.
• Oversimplification: This statement reduces a complex geopolitical issue to a single cause, the policies of the West, ignoring the multifaceted nature of international relations and the numerous factors that have contributed to the conflict in Ukraine. The Ukrainian crisis involves a variety of elements, including internal political strife, ethnic tensions, and the strategic interests of multiple global players​.
• False Cause (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc): The claim that the events in Ukraine are a direct result of Western policies assumes a cause-and-effect relationship without sufficient evidence. This fallacy suggests that because Western policies preceded the Ukraine crisis, they must have caused it, ignoring other significant contributing factors such as Russia's military actions and internal Ukrainian developments​.
• Historical Revisionism: The paragraph attempts to rewrite or reinterpret the historical context of the Ukraine crisis to fit a particular narrative, suggesting that Western policies are to blame for the conflict. This revisionist approach ignores the well-documented role of Russia in escalating the conflict through its annexation of Crimea and support for separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine.

"The elites of Western countries, as I mentioned earlier today, set a course for further geopolitical restructuring of the world after the end of the Cold War. They aimed to establish and enforce the so-called rules-based order, where strong, sovereign, and self-sufficient states simply do not belong."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character and motives of Western elites rather than addressing their policies in a substantive manner.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the concept of a rules-based order as inherently exclusionary to sovereign states without addressing the nuances of international law and governance.

"This explains the policy of containment directed against our country. Some figures in the United States and Europe openly declare the goals of this policy, speaking today about the so-called decolonization of Russia. Essentially, this is an attempt to ideologically justify the division of our Fatherland along ethnic lines. The dismemberment of the Soviet Union and Russia has been a discussion topic for a long time, as everyone in this room is well aware."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the policy of containment and the concept of decolonization as a direct attack on Russia's territorial integrity, without considering the broader context of these terms in international relations.
• Appeal to Fear: Suggests that these policies are aimed at the dismemberment of Russia, which is designed to provoke fear and defensiveness.

"In pursuing this strategy, Western countries aimed to absorb and militarily and politically develop territories near us. There have been five, now six, waves of NATO expansion. They sought to transform Ukraine into their stronghold, an “anti-Russia.” To achieve these objectives, they invested money and resources, bought politicians and entire parties, rewrote history and educational programs, and nurtured groups of neo-Nazis and radicals. They did everything possible to undermine our inter-state ties, divide us, and turn our peoples against each other."

• Conspiracy Theory: Suggests a coordinated, nefarious plan by Western countries to transform Ukraine into an "anti-Russia" and undermine inter-state ties without providing concrete evidence.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks Western countries by attributing malicious motives and actions without addressing specific policies or actions.
• Hasty Generalization: Broadly claims that Western countries have undertaken numerous harmful actions without providing detailed evidence for each claim.

"They would have pursued that policy even more brazenly and unceremoniously, had it not been for southeastern Ukraine, the region that had been part of historical Greater Russia for centuries, which was in their way. The people who lived there, and still do, continued to advocate better and closer ties with our country, including when Ukraine declared independence in 1991. Ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, as well as representatives of other ethnic groups, they were united by the Russian language, culture, traditions, and historical memory."

• Appeal to Tradition (Argumentum ad Antiquitatem): Uses historical ties and traditions to justify current political positions, suggesting that because southeastern Ukraine was part of historical Greater Russia, it should align with Russia today.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the current political situation by implying that historical unity and cultural ties should naturally lead to contemporary political alignment.

"Ukrainian presidents and presidential hopefuls simply had to reckon with the opinion, moods, and interests of those people – the millions of people living in the southeast. Ukrainian politicians needed their votes. However, having used their support when running for high posts, they later maneuvered out of doing what they promised, got out of it, lied, and cited the so-called European choice. They did not dare sever all ties with Russia though, because southeastern Ukraine had a different view, and one that was to be reckoned with. This duality has always been present in the Ukrainian government’s policies, ever since the recognition of independence."

• Hasty Generalization: Broadly claims that all Ukrainian politicians lied and maneuvered out of their promises without providing specific evidence for each case.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character of Ukrainian politicians by calling them liars without addressing specific policies or actions.
• False Dilemma: Implies that Ukrainian politicians had to choose between severing all ties with Russia or lying to their southeastern constituents, ignoring other possible political strategies or nuances.

"The West saw that, of course. Western politicians have long been aware of the problems in Ukraine that could be raked up; they also realized the importance of the southeast as a restraining factor, and knew that even years of propaganda could not radically change that. Not that they were not trying; but it was really difficult to reverse the situation."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions and intentions of Western politicians by suggesting they were solely focused on exploiting Ukraine's problems and using propaganda.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a coordinated effort by Western politicians to exploit Ukraine's issues without providing concrete evidence.
• Hasty Generalization: Generalizes that Western politicians were fully aware of and exploiting Ukrainian issues, without detailing specific instances or evidence.

"Try as they might, there was not a chance they could distort the historical identity and consciousness of the majority of people in southeastern Ukraine, to eradicate good feelings for Russia and the sense of our historical community, even from the younger generations. And they decided to use force again, to go and break the people in the southeast, as if they didn’t matter. To do this, they masterminded, organized and financed an armed coup, clearly taking advantage of the difficulties and political infighting in Ukraine. They prepared it purposefully and consistently."

• Conspiracy Theory: Suggests without evidence that Western politicians masterminded, organized, and financed an armed coup in Ukraine.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks Western politicians by attributing malicious intentions and actions without substantiating these claims.
• Hasty Generalization: Generalizes the actions and intentions of Western politicians regarding Ukraine, without providing detailed evidence or specific examples.

"A massive wave of riots, violence, and murders swept through Ukrainian cities. Finally, radical nationalists seized and usurped power in Kiev. Their aggressive nationalist slogans, including the rehabilitation of Nazi henchmen, were proclaimed at a level of state ideology. They inaugurated a policy of abolishing the Russian language in all aspects of government and society, and stepped up pressure on Orthodox believers and interference in church affairs, which eventually led to a schism. No one seemed to notice that interference, like it was no big deal. Try something like this elsewhere, everyone will go so ballistic you will regret it. But over there, this is allowed, because it is against Russia."

• Appeal to Fear: Describes a scenario of extreme violence and radical nationalist actions to incite fear.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the policies of the Ukrainian government by suggesting they aimed solely at abolishing the Russian language and promoting nationalism to a harmful extent.
• False Cause: Implies that the actions of the Ukrainian government directly led to a schism in the Orthodox Church without considering other contributing factors.
• Whataboutism: Argues that similar actions elsewhere would provoke outrage, diverting attention from the specific context and issues in Ukraine.

"As is well-known, millions of people residing in Ukraine, primarily in its eastern regions, made a stand against the coup. They began to be threatened with violence and terror. In the first place, the new authorities in Kiev started preparing an attack on the Russian-speaking Crimea, which, as you may know, was transferred from the RSFSR to Ukraine in 1954 with the violation of all norms of the law and procedures, even those in effect in the Soviet Union at that time. In this situation, we certainly could not abandon and leave without protection the people of Crimea and Sevastopol. They made their choice and, as is common knowledge, the historic unification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia took place in March 2014."

• Appeal to Tradition: References historical events to justify contemporary actions, implying that the historical context alone validates the annexation of Crimea.
• Appeal to Fear: Suggests that the people in Crimea were threatened with violence and terror to justify Russia's intervention.
• Hasty Generalization: Broadly claims that millions of people stood against the coup and supported Russia, without providing detailed evidence.

"The peaceful protests against the coup in Kharkov, Kherson, Odessa, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Lugansk, and Mariupol were suppressed, with the Kiev regime and nationalist groups unleashing the reign of terror. There is no need to recall all this, for everyone is well aware of what was happening in those regions."

• Appeal to Fear: Describes a "reign of terror" to evoke fear and justify opposition to the Ukrainian government.
• Hasty Generalization: Assumes that all protests were peaceful and suppressed by terror without considering the complexities of the events.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions of the Ukrainian government and nationalist groups to make them easier to attack.

"In May 2014, referendums were held on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, at which the overwhelming majority of local people voted for independence and sovereignty. This bids the following question: сould people generally express their will in this way and declare their independence? People present in this room know that they certainly could and had the full right and reason to do that under international law, including the right of people to self-determination. There is no need to remind this to you, of course, but since the media are at work, I will say that Article 1, paragraph 2, of the UN Charter extends this right."

• Appeal to Authority: The speaker references Article 1, paragraph 2, of the UN Charter to justify the referendums, using it as an authoritative source without fully exploring the complexities of international law and self-determination in contested regions.
• Cherry-Picking: Selectively cites the UN Charter to support the right to self-determination without acknowledging other international laws and norms that might counter or complicate this interpretation.

"Let me recall in this connection the notorious Kosovo precedent. We spoke many times about this in the past, but I will say it once again now. The precedent that the Western countries created themselves in an absolutely identical situation: they recognised Kosovo’s secession from Serbia in 2008 as legitimate. Later, the International Court of Justice issued its well-known Advisory Opinion. Based on Article 1, paragraph 2, of the UN Charter, it ruled on 22 July 2010 that, I quote: 'No general prohibition against unilateral declarations of independence may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council.' Next quote: 'General international law contains no applicable prohibition of declarations of independence.' More than that, it said that the parts of any country, which decided to declare their independence, were not obliged to apply to the central organs of their former state. They wrote all this with their own hand in black and white."

• False Analogy: The speaker equates the situation in Kosovo with Donetsk and Lugansk, ignoring significant differences in context, international response, and historical background.
• Appeal to Precedent: Uses the Kosovo precedent to justify the referendums without acknowledging that international law is often interpreted case by case and that the precedent may not directly apply to other situations.

"So, did the Donetsk and Lugansk republics have the right to declare their independence? Of course, they did! This issue even cannot be considered in a different way."

• Begging the Question:Assumes the conclusion (that Donetsk and Lugansk had the right to declare independence) without providing a substantive argument beyond the previously mentioned, potentially flawed analogies.
• Appeal to Certainty: States that the issue cannot be considered in a different way, dismissing any potential counterarguments or complexities.

"But what did the Kiev regime do in this situation? It fully disregarded people’s choice and unleashed a full-scale war against the new independent states, the people’s republics of Donbass, with the use of aircraft, artillery and tanks. They launched bombing and artillery attacks on peaceful cities and resorted to intimidation. So, what happened next? The people of Donbass took up arms to protect their lives, their homes, their rights and legitimate interests."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions of the Ukrainian government as a full-scale war against peaceful cities, ignoring the complexities and motivations behind the government’s actions.
• Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): Uses emotionally charged language to describe the conflict, aiming to provoke a strong emotional response from the audience.

"In the West, the prevailing narrative is that Russia initiated the war with its special military operation and is therefore the aggressor, so it is allowed to attack the Russian territory using Western weaponry. It is argued that Ukraine is merely defending itself, and is justified in doing so."

• Straw Man: Simplifies the Western narrative to make it easier to refute, ignoring the nuanced positions and the legal and ethical debates surrounding the conflict.

"I want to reiterate: Russia did not start the war. It was the Kiev regime that initiated hostilities, following the declaration of independence by residents of certain parts of Ukraine in accordance with international law, and continues to do so. If we do not recognize the right of these peoples to declare their independence, then this is indeed aggression. Those who have supported the Kiev regime’s war machine over the years are, therefore, accomplices to this aggression."

• Begging the Question: Assumes that the declarations of independence were legitimate and in accordance with international law, which is a point of contention.
• Ad Hominem: Labels those supporting the Ukrainian government as "accomplices to aggression," attacking their character rather than addressing their arguments.

"Back in 2014, the residents of Donbass refused to surrender. Militia units stood their ground, repelled the punitive forces, and eventually pushed them back from Donetsk and Lugansk. We hoped this would bring those who initiated the violence to their senses. To halt the bloodshed, Russia made its customary appeals for negotiations. Talks began, involving Kiev and representatives of the Donbass republics, with the support of Russia, Germany, and France."

• Hasty Generalization: Assumes that all residents of Donbass uniformly opposed the Ukrainian government and supported the militias, ignoring the diversity of opinions and experiences in the region.
• Appeal to Tradition: Suggests that Russia’s actions were motivated by a desire to halt bloodshed and negotiate, framing it as a traditional, honorable approach without addressing the complexities of the situation.

"The talks were not easy, but ultimately led to the conclusion of the Minsk Agreements in 2015. We took their implementation very seriously, hoping to resolve the situation within the framework of the peace process and international law. There was hope that this would lead to the recognition of the legitimate interests and demands of Donbass, including enshrining the special status of these regions and ensuring the fundamental rights of the people living there, all while maintaining Ukraine’s territorial integrity. We were prepared for this and sought to persuade the residents of these territories to resolve issues through such means. We proposed various compromises and solutions multiple times."

"However, Kiev ultimately rejected everything and simply discarded the Minsk Agreements. As representatives of the Ukrainian elite later confessed, none of the articles in these documents satisfied them; they simply lied and evaded as much as possible."

• Straw Man: Oversimplifies and misrepresents the Ukrainian government's actions and motivations, suggesting they rejected the Minsk Agreements without legitimate reasons or complexities.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character of the Ukrainian elite by labeling them as liars without addressing their specific concerns or reasons for their actions.

"The former Chancellor of Germany and the former President of France, who were essentially co-authors and purported guarantors of the Minsk Agreements, later openly admitted that the implementation was never their intention. Instead, they claimed it was a tactic to stall while they bolstered Ukrainian armed groups, supplied weapons and equipment. It was another instance of them playing a trick on us and deceiving us once again."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the characters of the former Chancellor of Germany and the former President of France by accusing them of deceit and trickery, rather than addressing the complexities and reasons behind their actions.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a coordinated deception without providing concrete evidence of this conspiracy, suggesting underhanded tactics by the Western leaders.

"Instead of fostering a genuine peace process and pursuing policies of reintegration and national reconciliation, as Kiev often claimed, Donbass endured eight years of relentless shelling, terrorist attacks, murders, and severe blockade. Throughout these years, the residents of Donbass – women, children, and the elderly – were dehumanised, labelled as “second-class” or “subhuman,” and threatened with retaliation, with promises of settling scores with everyone. What else can this be if not genocide in the heart of Europe in the 21st century? Meanwhile, in Europe and the US they pretended that nothing was happening and nobody was noticing anything."

• Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): Uses emotionally charged language such as “relentless shelling,” “terrorist attacks,” “murders,” and “genocide” to provoke a strong emotional response.
• Hasty Generalization: Broadly claims that all residents of Donbass were dehumanized and subjected to severe atrocities without providing detailed evidence for every aspect.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions and intentions of the Kiev government and Western countries, making them appear indifferent or complicit in alleged atrocities.

"In late 2021 and early 2022, the Minsk process was finally buried by Kiev and its Western handlers. Another large-scale attack was planned on Donbass. A large group of the Ukrainian armed forces was preparing to start a new offensive against Lugansk and Donetsk, which obviously entailed ethnic cleansing campaigns, numerous casualties and hundreds of thousands of refugees. We were obliged to prevent that catastrophe and to protect the people. We saw no other solution."

• Argumentum in terrorem: Suggests an imminent large-scale attack, ethnic cleansing, and numerous casualties to justify preventive actions, aiming to evoke fear.
• Conspiracy Theory: Implies that Kiev’s actions were directed by “Western handlers” without substantial evidence of such coordinated control.
• False Dilemma: Presents the situation as if there was no other solution but to intervene, ignoring other possible diplomatic or peaceful resolutions.

"Russia recognized the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. We did not do that in the previous eight years, hoping to come to an agreement [with Kiev]. You know the result. On February 21, 2022, we signed treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with the republics we recognized. Did these people’s republics have a right to ask us for help if we recognized their independence? Did we have a right to recognize their independence, and did they have a right to proclaim their sovereignty in accordance with the articles and decisions of the UN International Court of Justice I have mentioned? Did they have a right to independence? They did. If they had this right and exercised it, then we had a right to sign a treaty with them, which we did, as I have said, in full compliance with international law and Article 51 of the UN Charter."

• Begging the Question: Assumes the legitimacy of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk, using this assumption to justify subsequent actions without addressing the broader legal and political complexities.
• Appeal to Authority: References the UN International Court of Justice and Article 51 of the UN Charter to lend legitimacy to the recognition and treaties, without fully exploring the specific application of these laws in this context.

"At the same time, we called on the Kiev authorities to withdraw their troops from Donbass. I can tell you that we contacted them and told them that they should pull their troops out, and that would be the end of it. They rejected our proposal almost immediately; they simply ignored it, even though it was an opportunity to settle the problem peacefully."

• Straw Man: Simplifies the response of the Kiev authorities, suggesting they rejected a peaceful solution without considering their reasons or the context of the proposal.
• Appeal to Authority: Implies that the speaker's account of contacting Kiev authorities should be taken as authoritative without providing evidence or considering the complexities of diplomatic communication.

"On February 24, 2022, Russia had to announce the start of the special military operation. I addressed the citizens of Russia, the people of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics and Ukrainian society, outlining the goals of that operation – the protection of people in Donbass, the restoration of peace, and the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine. We did that to avert the threat to our state and to restore balance in the sphere of security in Europe."

• Argumentum in terrorem: Justifies the military operation by suggesting it was necessary to avert a threat to the state and restore balance, aiming to evoke fear and justify drastic measures.
• Hasty Generalization: Claims that the operation was for protection, peace, and denazification without providing detailed evidence or considering other perspectives.

"At the same time, we continued to believe that our priority was to attain the above goals by political and diplomatic means. I would like to remind you that at the first stage of the special military operation we agreed to hold negotiations with representatives of the Kiev regime. They were first held in Belarus and then moved to Türkiye. The message we tried to get across was that they should respect the choice made by Donbass, withdraw their troops and stop shelling peaceful cities and towns. This was all we asked for, saying that everything else could be decided later. But their reply was, No, we will fight. It was clearly the order that came from their Western masters. I will speak about this now."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the response of the Kiev authorities, suggesting their refusal to negotiate was solely due to orders from Western masters, ignoring other possible reasons or complexities.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character of the Kiev regime and their Western allies by suggesting they are mere puppets following orders, rather than addressing their actions or motivations substantively.

"As you know, in February and March 2022 our troops approached Kiev. There are many speculations both in Ukraine and in the West about this."

"What do I want to say about this? Our units were indeed deployed near Kiev, and the military departments and the security bloc had different proposals on our possible further actions, but there was no political decision to storm the city with three million people, no matter what anyone said or speculated."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents criticisms by suggesting they claimed a political decision was made to storm Kiev, thus simplifying and dismissing the opposition's concerns or statements.

"In fact, it was nothing else but an operation to coerce the Ukrainian regime into peace. The troops were there in order to push the Ukrainian side to negotiations, try to find acceptable solutions and thereby end the war Kiev had started against Donbass back in 2014, and resolve issues that pose a threat to the security of Russia."

• Begging the Question: Assumes the premise that the operation was purely for coercing peace and resolving threats, without providing evidence for these motivations being the sole reasons.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Justifies the presence of troops as a necessary measure to coerce peace, implying that force is a valid means of achieving negotiation and resolution.

"Surprisingly, as a result, agreements that satisfied both Moscow and Kiev were indeed reached. These agreements were put on paper and initialled in Istanbul by the head of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation. This means that this solution was suitable for the Kiev authorities."

• Hasty Generalization: Assumes that because initial agreements were reached, they were fully satisfactory and reflective of the Kiev authorities’ positions, without considering the complexities and subsequent developments.

"The document was titled “Agreement on Permanent Neutrality and Security Guarantees for Ukraine.” It was a compromise, but its key points were in line with our fundamental demands and resolved the problems that were stated as major ones even at the start of the special military operation. Let me also note that this included demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine. And we also managed to find challenging outcomes. They were complicated but they had been found. It was meant that a law would be adopted in Ukraine banning Nazi ideology and any of its manifestations. All of that was written there."

• Appeal to Authority: Uses the title and supposed content of the document to lend legitimacy to the claims, without providing the full context or acknowledging possible issues with the agreement.
• Straw Man: Simplifies the agreement by focusing on key points that align with the speaker's narrative, ignoring other potential concerns or points of contention.

"In addition, in exchange for international security guarantees, Ukraine would have limited the size of its armed forces, undertaken obligations not to join military alliances, not to host foreign military bases, not to station them and contingents, and not to conduct military exercises on its territory. Everything was written on paper."

• Straw Man: Implies that these terms were the only acceptable or possible terms, oversimplifying the potential concerns or counterarguments from Ukraine and its allies.
• False Dilemma: Suggests that the only way to ensure security is through these specific terms, ignoring other possible methods or compromises.

"Russia, which also understood Ukraine’s security concerns, agreed that Ukraine would receive guarantees similar to those that NATO members enjoy without formally joining the alliance. It was a difficult decision for us, but we recognised the legitimacy of Ukraine’s demands to ensure its security and did not object to the wording proposed by Kiev. This was the wording proposed by Kiev, and we generally did not have any objections, understanding that the main thing was to cease the bloodshed and war in Donbass."

• Appeal to Pity (Argumentum ad Misericordiam): Suggests that Russia's decision was particularly difficult and empathetic, aiming to garner sympathy and understanding for their position without addressing potential ulterior motives or strategic interests.
• False Dilemma: Implies that the only way to cease the bloodshed and war in Donbass was through the specific terms of the agreement, ignoring other potential methods or compromises.

"On March 29, 2022, we withdrew our troops from Kiev because we were assured that conditions must be created to complete the political negotiation process, and that one of the parties cannot sign such agreements, as our Western colleagues said, with a gun to their head. Okay, we agreed to that, too."

• Appeal to Hypocrisy (Tu Quoque): Implies that the Western position on negotiating without military pressure is hypocritical, without directly addressing the validity of this position or the broader context.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the Western position as simplistic and hypocritical, ignoring the complexities and reasons behind the call for withdrawal.

"However, the very next day after the Russian troops were withdrawn from Kiev, the Ukrainian leadership suspended its participation in the negotiations staging the infamous provocation in Bucha, and rejected the prepared version of the agreements. I think today it is clear why that ugly provocation was necessary: to explain why the results that had been achieved during the negotiations were rejected. The path to peace was rejected again."

• Conspiracy Theory: Suggests without evidence that the Bucha events were a staged provocation to justify Ukraine’s withdrawal from negotiations.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the Ukrainian leadership’s actions and intentions, simplifying a complex situation into a single narrative of deceit.

"As we know now, it was done on orders from Western curators, including the former UK Prime Minister who said directly during his visit to Kiev – no agreements; Russia must be defeated on the battlefield to achieve its strategic defeat. Thus they began to intensively pump Ukraine up with weapons and started talking about the need to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, as I have just mentioned. Some time later, as everyone knows, the President of Ukraine issued an executive order banning his representatives and himself from conducting any negotiations with Moscow. This episode with our attempt to solve the problem through peaceful means came to nothing again."

• Conspiracy theory: Suggests a coordinated Western plot to defeat Russia without providing concrete evidence.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks Western leaders by implying they are puppeteering the Ukrainian leadership, rather than addressing their stated reasons or actions.
• Appeal to Authority: Uses the statement of the former UK Prime Minister as definitive proof of a conspiracy, without providing a broader context or additional evidence.

"As for negotiations, now I would like to make public another episode. I haven’t spoken about this publicly either but some of those present here know about it. After the Russian army seized part of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, many Western politicians offered their mediation in a peaceful settlement of the conflict. One of them was on a working visit to Moscow on March 5, 2022. We accepted his mediation efforts, especially since he said during the conversation that he had secured the support of the leaders of Germany and France, as well as high-ranking US representatives."

• Appeal to Authority: Suggests the mediation efforts were legitimate and supported by key Western leaders without providing detailed evidence or context for the support.

"In course of our conversation our foreign guest wondered – an interesting moment – saying if you are assisting Donbass, then why Russian troops are in the south of Ukraine, including in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions? We responded to the effect that it was our General Staff ‘s decision on planning the operation. And I will add today that the idea was to bypass some fortified areas built in Donbass over the eight years by Ukrainian authorities, primarily for liberating Mariupol."

• Straw Man: Simplifies the foreign guest's question to set up an easy rebuttal that avoids addressing the broader strategic implications of Russian troop movements.

"Then our foreign colleague specified – a professional man, to be fair to him: are Russian troops going to stay in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions? And what will happen to these regions after the Special Military Operation has attained its goals? I answered to this that in general I do not rule out preservation of the Ukrainian sovereignty over these territories, provided Russia has a stable land bridge to Crimea."

• False Dilemma: Implies that the only acceptable outcome is either full control of the regions by Russia or preserving Ukrainian sovereignty with a land bridge, ignoring other potential solutions.

"It means that Kiev should guarantee servitude, as they call it, a legally formalised right of access for Russia to the Crimean Peninsula via Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. This is a critical political decision. And, of course, in its final version, it would not be adopted unilaterally but only after consultations with the Security Council, with other institutions, of course, after discussion with citizens, the public of our country and, above all, with residents of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions."

• Appeal to Authority: Suggests that consultations with various institutions and the public lend legitimacy to the decision, without addressing potential biases or the validity of these consultations.
• Straw Man: Simplifies the need for a "legally formalized right of access" to set up a specific, narrow solution that avoids addressing broader geopolitical concerns.

"In the end, that is what we did: we asked the opinion of the people themselves and held referendums. And we did what the people decided, including in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, in the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples’ republics."

• Hasty Generalization: Assumes that the referendums fully reflected the will of the people without addressing potential issues of legitimacy, voter coercion, or international recognition.

"At that time, in March 2022, our negotiating partner said that he was going to head to Kiev to continue the conversation with his colleagues in the Ukrainian capital. We welcomed this, in general, as attempts to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict, because every day of fighting meant new casualties and losses. However, the services of the Western mediator were not accepted in Ukraine, as we later learnt, and on the contrary, as we became aware, they accused him of taking pro-Russian positions in a rather harsh form, it has to be mentioned, but that is a small thing."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the rejection of the Western mediator’s efforts as solely based on accusations of pro-Russian positions, ignoring other possible reasons for the rejection.
• Ad Hominem: Suggests that the rejection of the mediator was due to unfounded accusations, attacking the character of the Ukrainian response rather than addressing the substance of their decision.

"Now, as I have already said, the situation has fundamentally changed. The residents of Kherson and Zaporozhye have expressed their position in referendums, and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, as well as the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, have become part of the Russian Federation. And there can be no talk of disturbing our state unity. The people’s will to be with Russia shall be inviolable. This matter is closed forever and is no longer a matter for discussion."

1. Hasty Generalization: Assumes that the referendums fully reflect the will of all residents without addressing potential issues of legitimacy, voter coercion, or international recognition.
2. Appeal to Authority: Declares the matter closed and not open for discussion based on the referendums, without addressing the broader context and legal disputes.

"Once again, it was the West that premeditated and provoked the Ukraine crisis; it is the West that is trying its best now to extend this crisis indefinitely, to weaken and mutually embitter the people of Russia and Ukraine."

• Scapegoating: The paragraph blames the West entirely for the Ukraine crisis, ignoring the significant role that Russia's actions have played. The annexation of Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as the broader conflict, have been driven significantly by Russian military actions and political maneuvers, including the controversial referendums held under Russian occupation, which have been widely condemned as illegitimate and coercive​.
• False Cause (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc): The statement implies that the West's actions directly caused the Ukraine crisis without acknowledging the complex interplay of factors, including Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine, and the recent annexation of Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
• Overgeneralization: Claiming that the West is trying to extend the crisis indefinitely is an overgeneralization. This ignores the diverse perspectives and actions within Western countries, some of which have been focused on diplomatic resolutions and support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Ukrainian Research Institute)​.
• Argumentum in terrorem: The paragraph aims to evoke fear by suggesting that the West's actions are designed to weaken and embitter the people of Russia and Ukraine. This is a manipulation tactic to provoke an emotional response from the audience without substantial evidence​

"They keep sending in more batches of arms and ammunition. Certain European politicians have been recently toying with the possibility of deploying their regular troops in Ukraine. At the same time, as I already noted, these puppeteers, the true rulers of Ukraine – unfortunately, these are not the people of Ukraine, but the globalist elites from overseas – are now trying to shift the burden of unpopular decisions to the Ukrainian executive authorities, including the decision to further lower the conscription age."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character of Western leaders and the Ukrainian government by calling them "puppeteers" and "globalist elites," rather than addressing their actions or policies.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Raises fears about the deployment of European troops and the lowering of the conscription age to provoke an emotional response.

"As you know, the draft-eligible age for Ukrainian men was recently lowered to 25; they may well lower it to 23 next time, and then to 20, or go all the way down to 18. The next thing you know, they will get rid of the officials who made these unpopular decisions under pressure from the West, just discard them as if they were expendable, blaming it entirely on them, and replace them with other officials, also dependent on the West, but with clearer reputations – yet."

• Slippery Slope: Suggests that lowering the draft age will inevitably lead to a series of extreme outcomes, without providing evidence for this progression.
• Straw Man: Misrepresents the intentions behind lowering the draft age, suggesting it is solely due to Western pressure and will lead to a cycle of discarding officials.

"Hence, perhaps, the idea of cancelling the next presidential election in Ukraine. They will let the incumbent team do it before throwing that team in the trash, and will continue doing whatever they think is right."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the character of Ukrainian and Western leaders by suggesting they will manipulate the electoral process without addressing any specific evidence or reasoning.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a coordinated plan to cancel the presidential election and manipulate the political process without substantial evidence.

"In this regard, I would like to remind you of something Kiev prefers to forget, and the West keeps silent about as well. What is it? In May 2014, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled that, quote – 'The president is elected for a term of five years, no matter whether the election is regular or early.' Furthermore, the Constitutional Court noted that 'the president’s constitutional status implies no norms setting any other office term than that of five years' – end of quote, period. The court’s decision was final, not subject to appeal. That was it."

• Cherry-picking:  The speaker selectively highlights the Constitutional Court's ruling on the fixed five-year presidential term to support the argument of the illegitimacy of the current Ukrainian government, while omitting the context that martial law currently prohibits elections, which is also constitutionally supported. By doing so, the speaker ignores the broader legal context and the flexibility inherent in the constitution regarding wartime governance..

"What does this mean in relation to today’s situation? The presidential term of the previously elected head of Ukraine has expired along with his legitimacy, which cannot be reinstated by any tricks. I will not go into detail about the background of the Ukrainian Constitutional Court’s ruling on the presidential term. It is clear that it was made amid attempts to legitimise the 2014 coup. Nonetheless, the verdict was passed, and this is a legal fact, which makes any attempt to justify today’s pantomime of cancelling the election untenable."

• Begging the Question: Assumes the illegitimacy of the current Ukrainian government by referring to the 2014 events without providing a detailed argument or evidence for this claim.
• Ad Hominem: Labels the current Ukrainian government and its actions as a "pantomime" and "tricks," attacking their character rather than addressing their legitimacy through evidence.

"In fact, as I said earlier, the current tragic chapter in Ukraine’s history began with a power grab, an anti-constitutional coup in 2014. To reiterate, an armed putsch lies at the origin of the current Kiev regime. Now, the circle has closed. Just like in 2014, the executive power in Ukraine has been usurped and is held illegally. In fact, we are dealing with an illegitimate government."

1. Straw Man: Simplifies the complex political events of 2014 to a single narrative of an "anti-constitutional coup," ignoring other interpretations and nuances.
2. Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): Uses emotionally charged language such as "power grab" and "armed putsch" to provoke a strong emotional response against the Ukrainian government.

"I will say more: cancelling elections reflects the very nature, the innards of the current Kiev regime, which grew out of the armed coup of 2014, is tied to it and has its roots there. The fact that, having canceled the elections, they continue to cling to power is something that is expressly prohibited by Article 5 of the Constitution of Ukraine. To quote, “The right to determine and change the constitutional order in Ukraine belongs exclusively to the people and shall not be usurped by the State, its bodies or officials.” In addition, such actions fall under Article 109 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which precisely refers to the forcible change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power, as well as conspiracy to commit such actions."

• Cherry Picking: Selectively quotes Article 5 of the Constitution to argue that the government is usurping power, without acknowledging the provisions for emergency situations that allow for the postponement of elections.
• Appeal to Consequences: Suggests that canceling elections reflects the inherent nature of the government as illegitimate without addressing the practical reasons for such a decision under martial law.

"In 2014, such usurpation was justified by the revolution, and now by hostilities, but it does not change the actual state of affairs. In fact, we are talking about collusion between the executive branch of the Ukrainian government, the leadership of the Verkhovnaya Rada and the parliamentary majority that it controls. This collusion is aimed at usurping the state power (this is the only way to describe it), which is a criminal offence under Ukrainian law."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions of the Ukrainian government as a deliberate attempt to usurp power rather than addressing the legal and practical challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.
• Conspiracy theory: Suggests a conspiracy between various branches of the Ukrainian government to maintain power without providing substantial evidence.

"Next, the Constitution of Ukraine does not provide for the possibility of canceling or postponing the election of the President of the country, or the continuation of his powers in connection with martial law, which they are now referring to. What does the Ukrainian fundamental law say? It says that the elections to the Verkhovnaya Rada can be postponed during the martial law. Article 83 of the Ukrainian Constitution says that."

• Cherry Picking: Selectively highlights that the Constitution does not explicitly mention postponing presidential elections while ignoring broader interpretations and legal provisions related to martial law which affect the entire electoral process.
• False Dilemma: Implies that since the Constitution does not explicitly mention postponing presidential elections, such actions are entirely illegitimate, ignoring the complex legal and practical realities of governing during martial law.

"So, the Ukrainian legislation has provided the only exception when the powers of a public authority are extended for the period of martial law, and elections are not held. This applies exclusively to the Verkhovnaya Rada. This designates the status of the Parliament of Ukraine as a permanent body under martial law."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the situation by suggesting that only the Verkhovna Rada's term can be extended, ignoring the broader legal context that impacts the entire governance structure during martial law.
• Cherry Picking: Focuses on the exception for the Verkhovna Rada while ignoring other legal and constitutional interpretations that allow for governance continuity during emergencies.

"In other words, unlike the executive branch, the Verkhovnaya Rada is a legitimate body now. Ukraine is not a presidential republic, but a parliamentary and presidential republic. This is the point."

• False Dichotomy: Presents a false dichotomy by suggesting that only the Verkhovna Rada can be legitimate during martial law, ignoring the complex interdependencies and legal provisions that allow for the executive branch to function during such times.

"Moreover, by virtue of articles 106 and 112, the Chairman of the Verkhovnaya Rada, acting as President, is vested with special powers, including in the sphere of defence, security, and supreme command of the armed forces. Everything is spelled out there in black and white."

• Appeal to Authority: Uses the authority of Articles 106 and 112 to assert a specific interpretation without acknowledging the broader legal and constitutional framework that supports the executive branch's actions during martial law.

"By the way, in the first half of this year, Ukraine signed a series of bilateral agreements with several European states regarding cooperation in security and long-term support. A similar document has been signed with the United States as well."

"Since May 21, 2024, questions naturally arise regarding the authority and legitimacy of the Ukrainian representatives who are signing such documents. It does not matter to us; let them sign whatever they want. Clearly, there is a political and propaganda angle at play here. The United States and its satellites seem eager to support their allies, enhancing their credibility and standing."

• Ad Hominem: Attacks the legitimacy and motives of Ukrainian representatives and their allies, suggesting their actions are driven purely by political and propaganda motives without addressing the content or necessity of the agreements.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a coordinated effort by the US and its allies to manipulate perceptions and support for Ukraine without providing substantial evidence.

"And yet, if a serious legal examination of such an agreement is later conducted in the US (not regarding the content, but the legal framework), questions will undoubtedly arise about who signed these documents and with what authority. It might turn out to be all bluster, rendering the agreement void, and the entire structure could collapse, provided there is a willingness to analyse the situation. One can pretend everything is normal, but the reality is far from it, I have read it. It is all documented, laid out in the Constitution."

• Argumentum in terrorem: Suggests that the agreements could be rendered void and lead to a collapse, aiming to instill doubt and fear about the stability and legality of these agreements.
• Cherry Picking: Selectively references potential legal challenges without considering the broader context of international agreements and the established authority of Ukrainian representatives under current laws and international recognition.

"Let me also remind you that following the commencement of the special military operation, the West initiated a vigorous and quite undiplomatic campaign aimed at isolating Russia on the global stage. It is now evident to everyone that this attempt has failed. However, the West has not abandoned its goal of forming an international coalition of sorts against Russia and maintaining a facade of pressure on our country. We are fully aware of this strategy as well."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the West's efforts to isolate Russia as entirely undiplomatic and having completely failed, ignoring any nuanced successes or the complex international responses to Russia's actions.
• Conspiracy theory: Suggests a coordinated and secretive effort by the West to maintain pressure on Russia without providing concrete evidence.

"As you may be aware, there has been active promotion of the initiative to convene the so-called high-level international conference in Switzerland on peace in Ukraine. Moreover, they intend to hold it shortly after the G7 summit, that is those who essentially fuelled the conflict in Ukraine through their policies."

1. Conspiracy theory: Implies that the conference's timing and promotion are part of a broader scheme by the G7 countries, which are accused of fueling the conflict without providing detailed evidence.

"The organisers of the meeting in Switzerland are proposing yet another manoeuvre to divert attention, distort the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, misdirect the discussion, and to some extent, reaffirm the legitimacy of the current executive power in Ukraine."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the goals of the conference organizers as solely aimed at distorting facts and reaffirming the Ukrainian government's legitimacy without considering their stated objectives of fostering peace and dialogue.
• Conspiracy theory: Suggests a coordinated effort to manipulate perceptions and divert attention without substantial evidence.

"Hence, it is expected that the conference in Switzerland will avoid addressing the fundamental issues underlying the current crisis in international security and stability, including the true roots of the Ukrainian conflict. Despite efforts to present a seemingly respectable agenda, these critical matters are unlikely to be discussed."

• Begging the Question: Assumes that the conference will avoid fundamental issues and misrepresent the crisis without providing evidence or acknowledging the potential for genuine dialogue.
• Straw Man: Pre-emptively criticizes the conference by misrepresenting its agenda and goals without waiting for the actual outcomes or discussions.

"We can expect that everything will boil down to general demagogic speeches and a new set of accusations against Russia. The idea is easy to read: bring in as many states as possible by any means possible and present the matter as if Western recipes and rules are shared by the entire international community as a result, which means Russia must unconditionally accept them."

• Straw Man: Simplifies and misrepresents the likely outcomes of the conference as mere demagoguery and unfounded accusations against Russia, ignoring the possibility of meaningful discussions or balanced perspectives.
• Conspiracy theory: Suggests a hidden agenda to manipulate international perceptions and force Russia into submission without substantial evidence.

"As you know, we were naturally not invited to the meeting in Switzerland. After all, these are not negotiations, but a desire of a group of countries to keep pushing their policy and resolve issues that directly affect our interests and security as they see fit."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the nature of the meeting by suggesting that it is solely about pushing certain policies and resolving issues without genuine negotiations. This oversimplifies the intentions of the meeting organizers, which likely include peace and security objectives.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a hidden agenda among the group of countries without providing substantial evidence to support this claim.

"In this regard, I would like to stress that it is impossible to reach a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis and to overall European security without Russia’s participation, without an honest and responsible dialogue with us."

• False Dilemma: Suggests that a peaceful solution is impossible without Russia's participation, ignoring the potential for other forms of conflict resolution or mediation by neutral parties.

"Right now, the West ignores our interests, while prohibiting Kiev from negotiating, and keeps hypocritically calling on us to negotiate. It looks simply idiotic: on the one hand, they are forbidden to negotiate with us, but we are called on to negotiate implying that we refuse to do so. It is nonsense. It looks like we are living in some kind of a fantasy world."

• Straw Man: Oversimplifies the Western stance on negotiations, suggesting they are hypocritically prohibiting Kiev from negotiating while calling on Russia to negotiate. The actual situation is more complex and involves various diplomatic pressures and strategic considerations.
• Ad Hominem: Uses derogatory language ("idiotic," "nonsense," "fantasy world") to undermine the Western position without addressing the substantive issues.

"Meanwhile, they should first command Kiev to lift the ban on negotiating with Russia, and second, we are ready to get down to negotiations as soon as tomorrow. We understand the peculiarity of the legal situation but there are legitimate authorities there, even in accord with the Constitution, as I have said. There is someone to negotiate with. Here you are, we are ready. Our conditions for starting such talks are simple, and come down to the following."

• Argumentum in terrorem: Uses the demand for lifting the negotiation ban as leverage to compel Ukraine into negotiations under Russian terms, implying potential consequences if these conditions are not met.
• Begging the Question: Assumes the legitimacy of the authorities Russia recognizes without addressing the broader international recognition and legitimacy issues.

"You know, I am going to take some time to recall the entire chain of events once again to make it clear that what I am about to say is not just about today for us, but that we have always adhered to a certain position and always strived for peace."

• Historical Revisionism: Implies a consistent position of striving for peace, potentially rewriting or oversimplifying the history of actions taken by Russia.

"So, these conditions are simple. The Ukrainian troops must be completely withdrawn from the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Let me note that they must be withdrawn from the entire territory of these regions within their administrative borders at the time of their being part of Ukraine."

• False Dilemma: Presents the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops as the only path to peace, ignoring other potential solutions or compromises.

"As soon as Kiev declares that it is ready to make this decision and begin a real withdrawal of troops from these regions, and also officially notifies that it abandons its plans to join NATO, our side will follow an order to cease fire and start negotiations will be issued by us that very moment. I repeat – we will do this expeditiously. Of course, we also guarantee an unhindered and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units and formations."

• Conditional Offer Fallacy: Implies that peace and negotiations are only possible under specific conditions dictated by Russia, without addressing mutual negotiation needs.
• Appeal to Force: Uses the threat of continued conflict as leverage to force Ukraine into accepting terms.

"We would certainly like to expect that such a decision on troops withdrawal, on a non-bloc status and on launching dialogue with Russia, on which Ukraine’s existence in the future depends, will be adopted in Kiev independently, proceeding from the established realities and guided by genuine national interests of the Ukrainian people, and not at the behest of the West, although there are, of course, great doubts about it."

• Ad Hominem: Suggests that Ukrainian decisions are not independent but influenced by the West, attacking the integrity of Ukrainian leadership.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a hidden influence by the West over Ukrainian decisions without substantial evidence.

"Nevertheless, what do I mean to say again in this connection and what do I want to remind you about? I said that I would like to go through the timeline of the events again. Let us spend some time on this."

"Thus, during the events on the Maidan in Kiev in 2013–2014, Russia repeatedly offered its assistance in the constitutional resolution of the crisis which had been actually masterminded from outside. Let us return to the timeline of events at the end of February 2014."

• Conspiracy theory: Implies that the crisis was masterminded from outside without providing substantial evidence to support this claim.

"On February 18, the opposition provoked armed clashes in Kiev. A number of buildings, including the mayor’s office and the House of Trade Unions were set on fire. On February 20, unidentified snipers opened fire at protesters and law enforcement personnel, that is , the masterminds of the armed coup did everything to push the situation to violence, to radicalisation. And those who were in the streets of Kiev and expressed their discontent with the then authorities were deliberately used as cannon fodder for their own selfish purposes. They are doing exactly the same thing today, mobilizing and sending people to slaughter. Still, back then there was a chance to exit the situation in a civilised manner."

• Conspiracy theory: Suggests without evidence that unidentified snipers and the masterminds of the armed coup deliberately escalated violence.
• Ad Hominem: Attacks the opposition by suggesting they used people as cannon fodder without addressing the legitimate grievances of the protesters.

"It is on record that on February 21 the then President of Ukraine and the opposition signed an agreement on settling the political crisis. Its guarantors, as is well known, were the official representatives of Germany, Poland and France. The agreement provided for a return to a parliamentary-presidential form of government, holding early presidential elections, a formation of a government of national accord, as well as the withdrawal of law enforcement forces from the centre of Kiev and the surrender of weapons by the opposition."

"I should add that the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law ruling out criminal prosecution of the protesters. Such an agreement, which would have stopped the violence and returned the situation to the constitutional framework, was a fact. This agreement was been signed, although both Kiev and the West prefer not to bring it up either."

• Cherry Picking: Selectively presents the signing of the agreement and the law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada as definitive solutions, ignoring the subsequent breakdown of the agreement and the complex dynamics that followed.

"Today, I will tell you another important fact that has not been publicly disclosed before: at the very same hours on February 21, I had a conversation with my American counterpart at the initiative of the American side. Essentially, the American leader offered unequivocal support for the Kiev agreement between the authorities and the opposition. Furthermore, he described it as a genuine breakthrough and an opportunity for the Ukrainian people to prevent the escalating violence from crossing all imaginable boundaries."

• Appeal to Authority: Uses the American counterpart's support for the agreement to lend legitimacy to the narrative, without addressing the subsequent events that led to the breakdown of the agreement.

"Furthermore, during our discussions, we collaboratively formulated the following approach: Russia committed to persuading the then-President of Ukraine to exercise maximum restraint, refraining from deploying the army and law enforcement against protesters. Conversely, the United States pledged to urge the opposition to peacefully vacate administrative buildings and work towards calming the streets."

"All of these efforts were intended to restore normalcy in the country, ensuring adherence to constitutional and legal principles. Overall, we agreed to collaborate towards fostering a stable, peaceful, and well developing Ukraine. We fulfilled our commitments in full. At that time, President Yanukovych, who had no intention to deploy the army, refrained from doing so and even withdrew additional police units from Kiev."

• Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: Implies that the collaborative efforts and Yanukovych's restraint directly resulted from the agreement, ignoring the broader context of why the situation still escalated despite these actions.

"What about our Western colleagues? During the night of February 22 and throughout the following day, despite agreements and guarantees from the West (both Europe and the United States, as I just mentioned), radicals forcibly seized control of the Rada building, the Presidential Administration, and took over the government while President Yanukovych left for Kharkov, where the congress of deputies of the southeastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea was supposed to take place. And none of the guarantors of these political settlement agreements – neither the United States nor the Europeans – did a thing to fulfill their obligations by urging the opposition to release the seized administrative buildings and renounce violence. It is evident that this sequence of events not only suited them but also suggests they may have orchestrated the unfolding events."

• Conspiracy theory: Implies that Western countries may have orchestrated the events without providing substantial evidence to support this claim.
• Hasty Generalization: Concludes that the sequence of events suited the West and implies their orchestration without considering all possible factors and evidence.

"On February 22, 2014, the Verkhovna Rada, in contravention of Ukraine’s Constitution, passed a resolution declaring the self-removal of President Yanukovych from office and scheduled early elections for May 25. This marked an armed coup instigated by external influences. Ukrainian radicals, with implicit consent and direct backing from the West, obstructed all efforts for a peaceful resolution of the crisis."

• Straw Man: Simplifies the complex political situation into a narrative of an armed coup instigated by external influences, ignoring the internal dynamics and grievances that led to the events.
• Conspiracy theory: Suggests without substantial evidence that the West directly backed Ukrainian radicals and obstructed peaceful resolutions.

"Then we urged Kiev and the Western capitals to initiate dialogue with the people in southeastern Ukraine, respect their interests, rights, and freedoms. However, the regime that seized power through the coup d'état opted for war and began punitive actions against Donbass in the spring and summer of 2014. Once again, Russia appealed for peace."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the actions of the Ukrainian government as solely punitive and ignores the context of the conflict in Donbass, which includes both separatist movements and the Ukrainian government's efforts to maintain sovereignty.

"We made every effort to address arising urgent issues within the framework of the Minsk Agreements. However, as previously emphasised, the West and the Kiev authorities showed no intention of implementing them despite verbal assurances from our Western colleagues, including the head of the White House, that they viewed the Minsk agreements as crucial and were committed to their implementation. They claimed that these agreements would help resolve the situation in Ukraine, stabilise it, and take into account the interests of the residents of eastern Ukraine. Instead, they effectively initiated a blockade, as I mentioned earlier, against Donbass. The Ukrainian Armed Forces systematically prepared for an all-out operation aimed at destroying the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s republics."

• Cherry Picking: Highlights the failure of the Minsk Agreements while ignoring the complexities and challenges in implementing them from both sides.
• Conspiracy theory: Implies a deliberate blockade and preparation for an all-out operation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the West without providing comprehensive evidence.

"The Minsk agreements were ultimately disregarded by the actions of the Kiev regime and the West. I will revisit this topic shortly. Therefore, in 2022, Russia was forced to begin the special military operation to cease the war in Donbass and safeguard civilians from genocide."

• Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: Implies that because the Minsk Agreements were disregarded, Russia had no choice but to begin the special military operation, ignoring other potential diplomatic solutions.
• Appeal to Fear: Uses the term "genocide" to justify military action, invoking fear without providing clear evidence of such extreme actions by Ukraine.

"From the outset, we consistently proposed diplomatic solutions to the crisis, as I mentioned earlier today. These included negotiations in Belarus and Turkiye, as well as the withdrawal of troops from Kiev to facilitate the signing of the Istanbul Agreements, which had been broadly accepted. However, these efforts were also rebuffed. The West and Kiev persisted in their aim to defeat us. Yet, as you know, these efforts ultimately faltered."

• Straw Man: Simplifies the complex diplomatic efforts and implies that the failure of these efforts was solely due to the intransigence of the West and Kiev, ignoring broader geopolitical dynamics and internal Ukrainian politics.

"Today, we are presenting another concrete and genuine peace proposal. If Kiev and Western capitals reject it again, as they have done before, then ultimately, it becomes their responsibility, both political and moral, for the ongoing bloodshed. Clearly, the situation on the front lines will continue to evolve unfavourably for the Kiev regime, altering the conditions necessary for initiating negotiations."

• False Dilemma: Presents the situation as having only two outcomes: accepting the proposal or being responsible for the ongoing bloodshed. This ignores other possible solutions or mitigating actions that could be taken by Kiev and Western capitals.
• Appeal to Consequences: Implies that rejecting the proposal makes Kiev and Western capitals morally and politically responsible for continued violence, without considering the complexities of the conflict and other factors at play.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Suggests that the situation on the front lines will worsen for the Kiev regime if the proposal is rejected, which aims to pressure acceptance through fear of negative outcomes.

"Let me underscore the key point: the essence of our proposal is not a temporary truce or ceasefire, as the West might prefer, to allow the Kiev regime to recover, rearm, and prepare for a new offensive. I repeat: we are not discussing freezing the conflict, but its definitive resolution."

• Straw Man: Misrepresents the Western preference as merely wanting a temporary truce to rearm Kiev, without addressing genuine concerns or strategies for a lasting peace.
• False Dilemma: Frames the proposal as the only path to a definitive resolution, ignoring other potential diplomatic solutions or peace processes that could be pursued.

"And I will reiterate: once Kiev agrees to the course of action proposed today, including the full withdrawal of its troops from the DPR, LPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, and begins this process earnestly, we are prepared to commence negotiations promptly without delay."

• Begging the Question: Assumes that Kiev’s agreement to withdraw troops will naturally lead to successful negotiations, without addressing underlying issues or potential obstacles in the negotiation process.
• Argumentum in terrorem: Implies a threat by suggesting that negotiations will only begin if Kiev agrees to the specific conditions, using the potential for continued conflict as leverage.

"I repeat our firm stance: Ukraine should adopt a neutral, non-aligned status, be nuclear-free, and undergo demilitarisation and denazification. These parameters were broadly agreed upon during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022, including specific details on demilitarisation such as the agreed numbers of tanks and other military equipment. We reached consensus on all points."

• Misleading Use of Terms: The term "denazification" is highly charged and misleading when applied to Ukraine, implying widespread Nazi ideology which is not supported by substantial evidence.
• Appeal to Authority: Cites the Istanbul negotiations as having reached consensus on these points, potentially overstating the agreement and ignoring subsequent disagreements or lack of implementation.

"Certainly, the rights, freedoms, and interests of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine must be fully protected. The new territorial realities, including the status of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions as parts of the Russian Federation, should be acknowledged. These foundational principles need to be formalised through fundamental international agreements in the future. Naturally, this entails the removal of all Western sanctions against Russia as well."

• False Premise: Assumes that acknowledging new territorial realities and protecting Russian-speaking citizens are mutually exclusive with Ukraine's sovereignty and international law, which is not necessarily the case.
• Appeal to Consequences: Suggests that formalizing these principles and removing sanctions will lead to peace, without addressing the broader geopolitical and legal implications.

"I believe that Russia is proposing an option that will make it possible to bring the war in Ukraine to a real end, that is, we call for turning the tragic page of history and, although with difficulty, gradually, step by step, restoring relations of trust and neighbourliness between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe as a whole."

• Hasty Generalization: Assumes that the proposed solution will lead to restored relations and trust, without considering the numerous factors and historical grievances involved.
• False Dichotomy: Implies that accepting Russia’s proposal is the only way to restore relations, ignoring other diplomatic efforts or peace initiatives.

"Having settled the Ukrainian crisis, we, and our partners in the CSTO and the SCO, which today are still making a significant and constructive contribution to the search for a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, as well as Western partners, including European countries that are ready for dialogue, could embark on the fundamental task that I spoke about at the beginning of my statement, namely the creation of an indivisible system of Eurasian security that takes into account the interests of all the states on the continent without exception."

• Hasty Generalization: Assumes that resolving the Ukrainian crisis will naturally lead to the creation of an indivisible system of Eurasian security, without considering the complexities and differing interests of various states involved.
• Bandwagon: Suggests that because partners in the CSTO and SCO are contributing to a peaceful settlement, their approach is universally effective and should be adopted by all, without critically examining the specific contributions and their impacts.

"Of course, a verbatim return to the security proposals that we put forward 25, 15 or even two years ago is impossible, as too much has happened and the conditions have changed. However, the basic principles and, most importantly, the very subject of dialogue remain unchanged. Russia is aware of its responsibility for global stability and reaffirms its readiness to talk to all countries. But this should not be an imitation of a peace process in order to serve someone's selfish will or someone's vested interests, but a serious and thorough conversation on all issues, on the entire range of questions of world security."

• Appeal to Tradition: Implies that the basic principles of past security proposals remain valid and should guide current discussions, despite significant changes in the geopolitical landscape.
• Straw Man: Suggests that any peace process that does not align with Russia's approach is merely an imitation serving selfish interests, misrepresenting the intentions and efforts of other parties involved in peace processes.

"Colleagues, I believe that all of you are well aware of the large-scale tasks facing Russia and how much we need to do, including in the foreign policy area."

"I sincerely wish you success in this difficult work to ensure Russia's security, our national interests, strengthen the country's position in the world, promote integration and bilateral relations with our partners."

"For their part, the national leadership will continue to provide the foreign ministry and all those involved in the implementation of Russia's foreign policy with the necessary support."

"Thank you once again for your work, thank you for your patience and attention to what has been said. I am confident that we will succeed. Thank you very much."

• Fallacies in Propaganda