SOCHI (Realist English). —Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the XXII annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, focusing on Russian-Ukrainian relations and their broader geopolitical context.
Putin said the collapse of the Soviet Union was largely driven by the Russian leadership’s hope to end ideological confrontation and achieve reconciliation with the West. However, he argued that the decisive factor proved to be competing geopolitical interests.
“The Ukrainian crisis should be seen in the logic of a multipolar world,” Putin stated. “If there had been multipolarity, different centers of power would have assessed the situation for themselves and delivered a more balanced decision.” He stressed that settlement should be based on recognition of the interests of all parties — Russia, Ukraine, and neighboring states.
The president added that regional countries must play the central role in building a security framework, while external powers treat the conflict as “a card in a larger game” to expand influence and seek economic gain.
Putin also recalled the tragedy of Donbas and what he described as the “destruction of Russian people in historic territories” following the 2014 events, accusing NATO of ignoring the crisis while expanding its infrastructure near Russia’s borders.
Putin’s remarks at Valdai reaffirmed a central line of Russian foreign policy: the demand for recognition of multipolarity and regional responsibility in resolving conflicts, a principle directly tied to the future of the Ukrainian crisis.
