Дмитрий Осипенко from Pixabay
Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the West for the war in Ukraine, arguing that years of what he described as aggressive Western policies left Russia with no choice but to launch its military campaign.
Speaking during a meeting with Russian naval personnel on Saturday, Putin said Moscow's decision to begin what the Kremlin continues to call a "special military operation" was a response to what he characterized as sustained pressure from Western countries and developments in Ukraine, according to Russia's state news agency TASS.
Putin claimed that Western governments had failed to honor earlier assurances that NATO would not expand eastward, arguing that the alliance continued to enlarge despite repeated Russian objections.
He also accused the West of supporting the 2014 change of government in Ukraine, describing it as an unconstitutional and violent coup. According to Putin, these events, combined with continued Western backing for Kyiv, ultimately led to the current conflict and prompted Russia to launch its military operation.
