Putin blames the West for war against Ukraine: what do his controversial statements mean?

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Western countries' policies for the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine. He stated this in the new documentary film “Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 Years”.

According to Putin, Western countries do not want to see Russia as an independent and sovereign state. “The West wants to divide Russia into parts and bring it under its control,” he emphasized.

In this context, Putin recalled his famous speech at the 2007 Munich Conference. At that time, he tried to convey Russia's position to Western partners: “Russia will either be independent and sovereign or won’t exist at all. The West should have understood this. Unfortunately, their position did not change. That is why today’s tragic events with Ukraine are happening,” said Putin.

Putin’s controversial statements: how credible is the cause of the war?

Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, the Kremlin has made many contradictory statements. Russia’s aggression, which started with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, was first justified by “protecting the rights of Russian-speaking populations.” Later, it was argued that Ukraine’s NATO membership would pose a serious threat to Russian security.

In February 2022, before the full-scale invasion, Putin stated that the main goals of the war were the “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine. However, there was no Nazi or authoritarian regime in Ukraine — the country functioned within democratic principles.

Furthermore, Putin has repeatedly questioned Ukraine’s status as an independent state. According to him, Ukraine is an “artificial state created from Russian lands.” This is a dangerous and contradictory statement that clearly violates international law.

What does Putin really mean?

Experts believe that Putin is trying to portray Western countries as enemies to strengthen his political influence inside Russia. He also aims to rally public support against international sanctions and external pressure.

However, Putin’s statements have been strongly criticized by the international community. The US, European Union, UN, and other global organizations have declared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine an act of open aggression and continue to demand legal accountability from Moscow.

As of now, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues. Thousands of people have died, and millions have been displaced. In such a situation, Putin’s rhetoric may hinder efforts toward peace.

Therefore, his contradictory remarks raise serious questions about his true motives. Only history will provide the answers.

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