In a stark and accusatory tone, Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again blamed Western powers for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, accusing them of turning the nation into a military outpost designed to undermine Russia. His statement came on the anniversary of Russia’s incorporation of four Ukrainian regions-Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson-into the Russian Federation, a move that remains a point of fierce contention internationally.

Putin’s comments, delivered as Russia commemorates two years since the annexation of these territories, offered a window into Moscow’s perspective on the ongoing war. The Russian leader emphasized that Russia had initially sought a peaceful resolution to tensions with Ukraine and its Western backers, only to be met with deceit and duplicity from the other side. According to Putin, the failed negotiations are a reflection of a broader geopolitical agenda, in which Western elites have sought to transform Ukraine into a military stronghold against Russia, while fostering radical nationalism and anti-Russian sentiment in the country.

Putin’s narrative hinges on the notion that Russia was genuinely invested in resolving the conflict diplomatically but was ultimately betrayed by Western powers. He pointed to the Minsk Accords, signed in 2014 and 2015, as an example of this duplicity. These agreements were intended to provide a pathway to peace by offering autonomy to Donetsk and Lugansk within a united Ukraine. However, Putin claims that the accords were never meant to be upheld by Kiev or its Western sponsors. Instead, they were a smokescreen, designed to buy time for Ukraine to rebuild its military capabilities with the eventual goal of waging war against the rebellious regions and, by extension, Russia.

The Minsk Accords, endorsed by France, Germany, and Ukraine, were ultimately abandoned, with Ukrainian forces continuing to clash with pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass. According to Putin, this was not a failure of the accords themselves but a reflection of Western bad faith. He accused France, Germany, and Ukraine of using the agreements as a tactical maneuver to arm and prepare Ukraine for a future confrontation with Russia.

Putin’s statement resonates with a long-standing Russian grievance regarding NATO’s expansion eastward. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Moscow has repeatedly expressed concerns about NATO encroaching on its borders, particularly as Eastern European countries joined the alliance. For Russia, the possibility of Ukraine becoming a NATO member is seen as an existential threat, one that has pushed the Kremlin into its current military posture.

In his remarks, Putin accused Western nations, particularly the United States, of treating Ukraine as a “colony” for their geopolitical ambitions. By arming and training Ukrainian forces, sending mercenaries, and deploying military advisers, Western powers have effectively transformed Ukraine into a military foothold aimed squarely at Russia. This framing aligns with Russia’s long-standing critique of NATO and the West, viewing them as aggressors seeking to destabilize the region.

The president’s comments underscore his view that the West has not only fueled the conflict but has deliberately stoked hatred and radical nationalism in Ukraine to further isolate and antagonize Russia. According to this narrative, the West’s influence in Ukraine has led to the institutionalization of anti-Russian sentiment, which in turn has paved the way for discriminatory policies against ethnic Russians in Ukraine-a key justification for Russia’s intervention.

Following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, often referred to in Moscow as a Western-backed coup, Putin claims that Ukraine’s political and military institutions were effectively captured by radical nationalists and Western agents. This, he argues, explains why the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk escalated to the point of armed conflict. The Russian government has consistently framed its military intervention as a protective measure for ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine, who were allegedly facing persecution.

Putin reiterated that the annexation of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson was the culmination of the will of the people in those regions. Moscow has repeatedly defended the referendums held in these territories as a legitimate expression of the people’s right to self-determination. While the international community, led by Western nations, has condemned these votes as “sham” referendums, Putin insists that they represent the true desires of the populations involved.

The annexation of these regions has been a pivotal moment in the conflict, marking a formal escalation and an entrenched territorial claim by Russia. It is also a critical juncture for Putin’s broader narrative-that Russia is defending itself against a hostile West, intent on erasing Russia’s influence in Ukraine and destabilizing the broader region. Putin’s reference to these territories as now part of Russia is an affirmation of his commitment to holding onto them, despite the continued military struggle in some of these regions, particularly Kherson.

In his statement, Putin also justified Russia’s military actions by pointing to the aggressive posture of the Ukrainian government and its Western backers. He cited Kiev’s military actions in southeastern Ukraine, particularly during the 2014 and 2015 clashes, as evidence that Ukraine, supported by Western countries, had long been preparing for a broader conflict. This, in his view, vindicates Russia’s current military operation.

Western nations, for their part, have consistently framed the conflict as an unprovoked act of aggression by Russia. Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s Western allies have provided substantial military aid, amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars, in an effort to bolster Ukraine’s defense. The rationale behind this aid, according to Western officials, is not only to support Ukraine’s sovereignty but also to prevent any future Russian expansion into NATO member states.

Moscow denies harboring any intention of attacking NATO but insists that NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe and its promises of membership to Ukraine in 2008 were key provocations that contributed to the current hostilities. From Russia’s perspective, the military aid flowing into Ukraine is part of a broader proxy war, led by the United States, in which Ukrainians are being used as “cannon fodder” to weaken Russia.

Putin’s narrative of the war in Ukraine is thus steeped in the idea that Russia is engaged in a defensive struggle against a Western imperialist project. In this worldview, the West’s involvement in Ukraine is not about supporting democracy or self-determination, as often claimed by Western leaders, but about using Ukraine as a tool in a larger campaign to destabilize and diminish Russia.

As the conflict grinds on with no end in sight, the question of how the war will evolve remains critical. For Putin, the war’s objectives are clear, and he is adamant that Russia will achieve its goals. However, the broader geopolitical implications are far more uncertain, with the potential for even greater escalation as both sides continue to dig in.