Russian President Putin Accuses West of Starting War in Ukraine, Says Moscow Putting an End to it

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday addressed the Russian parliament in Moscow where he accused the West of starting the war in Ukraine and claimed Russia used force in order to stop it.

Putin said that Russia was open to the idea of holding dialogue and pursuing the path of diplomacy with the West and remained open to an equal system of security, but claimed Moscow received “dishonest answers” – referring to NATO’s expansion.

In his speech, he accused the West – targeting the US and its allies – of trying to turn a local conflict into a global conflict. “We will react in an appropriate way. We are talking about the existence of our country,” Putin said.

Putin also fired a warning towards the US, without naming the country, who has been giving Ukraine military assistance for the past one year. “The more long-range weapons are sent to Ukraine the longer we will have to push the threat away from us. Step by step, we will carefully and systematically solve the aims that face us,” Putin said.

The Russian President said Ukrainian citizens became “hostages of their western masters” and those people have occupied the country in political, economic and military terms. He said the regime led by President Volodymyr Zelensky is serving national interest but rather serving the interests of foreign powers.

He also thanked the residents of areas that Russia has annexed for siding with Moscow. “I would like to express a special gratitude to the citizens of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. You yourself determined your future. You made your choice despite the threats of terror of the Nazis. Next to you there were military actions taking place, and you made the choice to be together with Russia. To be together with your motherland,” Putin said, according to the Guardian.

(this is a developing story, more details are being added)

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