\u201cUnfortunately, so far we haven\u2019t been able to stop the hostilities, but the responsibility for that relies not on the majority [of countries] but on the minority, first and foremost Europe, who continues to escalate the conflict,\u201d Putin said. \u201cI believe there is no other goal over there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time I believe that good will shall prevail. We have no doubt about this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Putin\u2019s words follow U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s statement<\/a> that Kyiv, \u201cwith the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.\u201d<\/p>\n Some experts took<\/a> Trump\u2019s words as an attempt to shirk responsibility for resolving the conflict.<\/p>\n \t\tnews \t\t\t\tU.S. to Share Intelligence With Kyiv for Strikes on Russian Energy Sites \u2013 WSJ Speaking in the southern resort city of Sochi, Putin called out Western hypocrisy and supposed desire for regional dominance as driving forces preventing peace.<\/p>\n His words at times echoed those of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who lambasted<\/a> European countries\u2019 perceived hypocrisy and suppression of free speech at the Munich Security Conference in February.<\/p>\n Putin voiced similar grievances but also went further, suggesting that Western countries are deceiving their own people and repeating his long-held belief that NATO\u2019s eastward expansion is the primary cause of Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see that our European neighbors are now trying to\u2026 plaster the cracks of the edifice of Europe,\u201d he said, adding that they want to \u201cstrengthen this shaken unity that they were so proud of and flaunted.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\tnews \t\t\t\tRussia Prepared to Keep Fighting if Ukraine Diplomacy Fails, Putin Says Putin went on to say that European countries are stoking the image of Russia as a political and military bogeyman.<\/p>\n \u201cThey try to recreate the well-known enemy that they invented hundreds of years ago: Russia,\u201d he said. \u201cMany people in Europe do not know what\u2019s so horrible about Russia. Why should they tighten their belts countering Russia, forgetting about their own interests, sacrificing [themselves] and acting [to] their own detriment?\u201d<\/p>\n On the subject of what he called Europe\u2019s \u201cmilitarization,\u201d Putin said that \u201cthe response to such threats will be, to put it mildly, quite convincing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRussia proved on many occasions that when threats to our peace and security come to the fore \u2014 and threats to our sovereignty and our statehood \u2014 we are swift in responding,\u201d Putin continued. \u201cNo, you should not provoke us.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\tnews \t\t\t\tMoscow Dismisses NATO Airspace Violations as \u2018Hysteria\u2019 Putin was speaking at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, an influential think tank and discussion forum founded in 2004 at which his speech is a yearly fixture.<\/p>\n His speech came as the Trump administration appears to be trying new tactics to force an end to the war in Ukraine after eight months of shuttle diplomacy failed to deliver results.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Reuters reported<\/a> that Trump had authorized the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies to start providing Ukraine with intelligence to strike energy infrastructure deep inside Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n The order reportedly came shortly before Trump posted about his newfound belief that Ukraine can win back its territory occupied by Russia.<\/p>\n A Message from The Moscow Times:<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear readers,<\/p>\n We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”<\/p>\n These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.<\/p>\n We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.<\/p>\n By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tContinue\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Not ready to support today? \u00d7<\/p>\n \t\tRemind me next month<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tThank you! Your reminder is set.\n\t\t<\/p>\n
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