In the video message broadcasted on Russian state TV, Putin said Russia was fighting in Ukraine to protect its "motherland" and to secure "true independence" for its people.
Putin said his country would never give in to the West’s attempts to use Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia.
“In fact, in every possible way they were encouraging neo-Nazis who conducted open terrorism against civilians in the Donbas,” Putin said in the combative New Year’s speech. “The West lied about peace,” Putin said. “It was preparing for aggression … and now they are cynically using Ukraine and its people to weaken and split Russia. Watch the video below
“For years, Western elites hypocritically assured us of their peaceful intentions,” he said in a speech filmed at the headquarters of Russia’s southern military district.
“We have never allowed this, and will never allow anybody to do this to us,”
