Putin accuses the West of “aggression and hypocrisy”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has used his address to the nation for the New Year to accuse Western states of aggression and are trying to use the conflict in Ukraine to undermine Moscow.

Putin made this video address that was broadcast on state television from Army headquarters, where soldiers were seen behind him.

The “was a difficult year, with necessary decisions, but most importantly with taking steps to gain Russia's full sovereignty and to strongly consolidate our society”, he said.

Putin reiterated that Moscow had no choice but to send military troops to Ukraine, as he said Russia's security was threatened.

The West lied about peace, but it was preparing for aggression, and today it has accepted this open, it is no longer ashamed. And they, cynically, are using Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia”, Putin said.

We've never allowed anyone and we're never going to let anyone achieve anything like this”.

The Kremlin has silenced any criticism of its actions in Ukraine, has closed independent media, and has committed criminal offence to spread any information about the war that is different from the official position. Russia calls its invasion unprotested Ukraine which began on February 24th “special military operation”.

Russia has justified the fight by saying Ukraine has persecuted Russian-speaking in the Ukrainian region of Donbas, which has been partially controlled by separatists backed by Russia since 2014. Ukraine and the West have said these accusations are false.

For years, Western elites hypocritically assured all of us that they had peaceful goals, including for resolving the most difficult conflict, at Donbas”, Putin said.

“this year, declared the true fight of sanctions against us”, Putin added.

Western countries have imposed severe sanctions against Russia, and many foreign companies have withdrawn from Russia since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in late February. / REL/