“Speak frankly”: the tense exchange between Vladimir Putin and the boss of Russian intelligence

The scene seems straight out of a fiction. President Vladimir Putin convened a security council on Monday to discuss the Ukrainian crisis. A meeting, partly broadcast on Russian television, which gave rise to an extremely tense exchange between the Russian head of state and the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin.

The curious sequence begins when Vladimir Putin asks Naryshkin if he positions himself in favor of the independence of the pro-Russian separatist regions of Ukraine. Seemingly won over by embarrassment, his interlocutor stammers a few confused words, before clarifying his position, faced with the ever more chilling tone of the president. The exchange, lunar, then continues:

– Vladimir Putin: “What do you propose? To start the negotiation process? »

– Sergei Naryshkin: No, I…

– Vladimir Putin: “Or to recognize the sovereignty of the Donbass republics? »

– Sergei Naryshkin: “I will support this proposal. »

– Vladimir Putin: “Will you support her or will you support her? Speak frankly! »

– Sergei Naryshkin: “I support the proposal…”

– Vladimir Putin: “So say it: yes or no? »

– Sergei Naryshkin: “I say so, yes. I support the proposal to integrate the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk into the Russian Federation. »

– Vladimir Putin: “But we are not talking about that! We don’t discuss it! We are talking about recognition or not of their independence. »

– Sergei Naryshkin: “I support the proposal regarding the recognition of the independence of the Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. »

– Vladimir Putin: “Thank you, you can sit down. »

In addition to the head of foreign intelligence, the main confidants of the Russian leader spoke during this security council. Among them were Prime Minister Mikhail Michoustin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. In the wake of these exchanges, Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the pro-Russian separatist states and ordered the Russian army “to keep the peace” in these territories, thus defying the Westerners who announced sanctions.

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