Putin dismisses claims about Russia's "imperial aspirations" as nonsensical.
Before launching its war against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia denied any intention of doing so. The West claimed that Russia used Ukraine to weaken or obliterate its own country. The Kremlin rejected the idea of wanting to restore its lost empire, but five Ukrainian regions have been annexed by Russia. Several Russian government officials, among them Putin, claimed that these regions were once a part of the Russian and Soviet empires.
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- Despite Putin's dismissal of Russia's "imperial aspirations" as "nonsensical" before the Ukraine conflict, several news agencies reported that five Ukrainian regions had been annexed by Russia.
- In St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin and other Russian government officials frequently claimed that these annexed regions were once a part of the Russian and Soviet empires, fueling rumors of Russia's imperial ambitions.
- Critics argued that Putin's assertions about Russia's historical claims in Ukraine were "bullshit," as the Kremlin had repeatedly denied any intention of expanding its territory.
- Moscow's denials about its imperial ambitions were met with skepticism from many Western nations, which saw Russia's actions in Ukraine as a violation of international law and a threat to Ukraine's sovereignty.
- Putin's dismissal of claims about Russia's "imperial aspirations" echoed statements he made in the past, such as his assertion that Russia's military intervention in Syria was not driven by ambition but by a need to protect its national security.
- Despite Putin's denials, some analysts saw Russia's actions in Ukraine as a manifestation of its "imperial ambition," which they believed was driven by a desire to restore Russia's status as a great power and regain control over territories that were lost during the post-Soviet era.
