Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine 'started the war' and Russia had to 'end it' in a speech railing against the West.
The Russian president also praised his soldiers during his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday (February 21). The speech was expected to set the tone for the year ahead and shed light on how the Kremlin sees its bogged-down war in Ukraine.
Mr Putin has frequently justified his invasion of Ukraine by accusing western countries of threatening Russia. They say nothing could be further from the truth, saying Moscow’s forces attacked Ukraine unprovoked.
