Putin named the cause of the crisis in Ukraine

Western countries' desire to maintain global hegemony has led to a severe crisis in Ukraine , Russian President Vladimir Putin stated while speaking via video link at a BRICS meeting.

"First, with the help of Western countries, an unconstitutional coup d'état was carried out in this country, and then a war was unleashed against those people who did not agree with this coup d'état," he noted.

The Russian leader called the conflict in Ukraine a "war of extermination" that has been going on "for eight years."

He stressed that the BRICS countries – Brazil , Russia , India, China and South Africa – oppose hegemony and neocolonial policies and support the formation of a multipolar world order based on international law.

Putin has repeatedly blamed Western elites and the Kiev regime for the outbreak and casualties of the conflict in Ukraine.

Thus, in his address to the Federal Assembly in February 2023, he noted that today the Kyiv government "serves" not the country's national interests, but those of third parties. According to the Russian leader, the West is using Ukraine "as a battering ram against Russia and as a testing ground." He warned that the more long-range weapons Western countries supply Kyiv, the further the Russian military will have to push the threat away from its borders.

In December 2022, Putin stated that the conflict in Ukraine stemmed from Western policies aimed at "pulling apart historical Russia." He explained that Western policy is based on the principle of "divide and rule."

Previously, the Russian president cited two reasons for launching the special operation. The first was NATO's plans to expand into Ukraine, and the second was Kyiv's refusal to comply with the Minsk agreements.

Western countries condemned the Russian special operation, expressed support for Kyiv, and imposed tough sanctions against Moscow . Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Russia, declared martial law, and declared general mobilization.