MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. Russia could not leave Donbass to its own devices, President Vladimir Putin said, addressing a plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday.

The head of state pointed out that the Kiev authorities had publicly refused to implement the Minsk Agreements. "What did it mean for us? For us, it meant that we should do something about Donbass. People there have been living under fire for eight years, attacks continue to this day. We had to make a decision for ourselves. And what decision could we make? To recognize their independence," Putin explained.

"However, it was unacceptable to recognize their independence and leave them to their own devices. So, we had to take the next step, and we did take it, making them part of the Russian state. They will not survive alone, it’s a clear fact," the head of state stressed.

Putin emphasized that Kiev had carried out "two major military operations"in Donbass, "which were unsuccessful," but "shelling attacks went on and on." "What were we supposed to do after that? Conduct an operation. Why wait until they launch their own when we know that they are gearing up for it," Putin said.

"It is just the inevitable, logical course of events," the president noted. "It wasn’t us that shaped this course," the head of state stressed. "Why did they have to conduct a coup in Ukraine in 2014? <...> They conducted a coup, the people in Crimea and Donbass refused to accept it and things started to unfold, leading to the current tragic events," Putin explained.