00:00With Russian troops surrounding Ukraine, tonight President Putin speaking without notes for almost an hour on national television, uncompromising, capping a day he clearly choreographed, holding court as advisors on his security council dismissed U.S. allegations that Russia would attack Ukraine as war propaganda, urging him to recognize pro-Russian breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk as independent territory.
00:30Which he did late tonight, the stage management even extending to a fireworks display minutes later in Donetsk.
00:38Those breakaway regions inside Ukraine are seen as a powder keg. Located along the Russian border, over 3 million people live there.
00:46They speak Russian and hundreds of thousands already hold Russian passports.
00:51Russian state television airing a tsunami of propaganda, at times sounding like conflict has already begun.
00:57But on the streets of Moscow, Russian people we spoke to still hoping to avoid war.
01:04Do you think there will be a war in Ukraine?
01:06I love Russia. I love Ukraine. Peace of peace.
01:10You want peace?
01:11Yes.
01:12I think it is not in the interest of Russia and it is not in the interest of USA.
01:18Tonight, the treaties signed by President Putin include plans for Russian military bases inside eastern Ukraine.
01:27Even as Western officials say, elements of Russia's military harbor very serious doubts about a potential invasion.
01:48the congratulations on the other side of Russia and the great deal with that, as a result of Russia's military base.
02:03And you can see that the war is not in the interest of Russia.
02:06But I don't think it is enough for Russia and it is in the interest of Russia.
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