Putin accuses West of turning Ukraine into military outpost

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Monday that Western elites have transformed Ukraine into a “military outpost,” as Russia marks the second anniversary of its illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.

In a video address, Putin accused the West of deceiving Russia during peace talks and using Ukraine as a tool against Moscow.

“They turned Ukraine into their colony, into a military outpost aimed at Russia,” Putin said, further alleging that the West fueled “hatred and radical nationalism” in Ukraine by supplying arms for a “new war.”

The annexation of these regions on September 30, 2022, followed widely condemned referendums, with Türkiye and the international community rejecting their legitimacy.