Portrait of Vladimir Putin
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Vladimir Putin on War in Ukraine

Justification of military action (strong)

Vladimir Putin views the military operation in Ukraine as a necessary, defensive action taken to safeguard Russia's security interests and protect ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in the region.

He consistently maintains that the objectives include the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, claiming the Ukrainian government poses an ideological threat to Russia and its allies. This position frames the conflict not as an invasion, but as a response to years of perceived aggression and broken promises by the West.

Putin has also presented the conflict as a broader struggle against the hegemony of the United States and NATO, arguing that Western support for Kyiv was an unacceptable encroachment on Russia's sphere of influence. Consequently, he links the war to defending Russia's historical right to security and its cultural/linguistic ties to Ukraine.

Timeline

  1. Russian leadership, under Putin, issues demands to the US and NATO for security guarantees, effectively demanding a halt to further NATO expansion.
  2. Putin officially recognizes the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).
  3. Putin announces the launch of a 'special military operation' in Ukraine, citing the need to protect the DPR and LPR.
  4. Putin oversees ceremonies for the annexation of four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Actions Taken

  1. Political Recognition
    Ordered the recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as independent states.
  2. Military Operation
    Announced and initiated the 'special military operation' targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and forces.
  3. Territorial Annexation
    Signed decrees formalizing the annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts into the Russian Federation following widely condemned referendums.

Key Quotes

Our goal is to protect people who for eight years have been subjected to bullying and, in fact, genocide by the Kyiv regime.

Address to the Nation February 24, 2022 — Stating the justification for launching the full-scale invasion.

We have no other option but to defend ourselves, in a more aggressive, more decisive, and in fact, historically more reliable way. The whole world should see that Russia cannot be intimidated.

Address to the Nation February 24, 2022 — Explaining the decision to commence military action.

The goals remain the same. We have not lost anything, and we will not lose anything.

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) June 15, 2023 — Reaffirming the long-term objectives of the operation.

Related Positions

  • NATO Expansion Putin consistently cites the expansion of NATO eastward as a primary, long-term security threat justifying his actions.
  • Russian World (Russkiy Mir) His stance aligns with the concept of a unified Russian civilization, which implies a special sphere of influence over former Soviet states like Ukraine.