Vladimir Putin at his annual press conference in Moscow, Russia, on December 23, 2021.
Natalya Zamboska/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- Vladimir Putin refused to rule out a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Putin slammed NATO expansion and said Russia was defending itself from the bloc’s aggression.
- Russia has been building up forces on Ukraine’s borders, sparking fears of an imminent invasion.
President Vladimir Putin refused to rule out a Russian invasion of Ukraine, claiming the US and the West had been trying to break up Russia since 1918.
Speaking during the Q&A section of his annual speech, which took place Thursday, Putin said NATO was putting “constant pressure” on Russia by expanding eastward toward it.
Russia has been building up its troop presence on its border with Ukraine, prompting fears of an imminent invasion.
When asked by Sky News’ Diana Magnay if he would rule out invading Ukraine, Putin said his country would do what it needed to protect itself.
—Sky News (@SkyNews) December 23, 2021
“Our actions will depend not on the negotiation process but on the unconditional security of Russia,” he said.
“We’ve witnessed five waves of NATO expansion. Why can’t they understand? What is unclear? We are thinking about our own security.”
Putin also said troop buildup at Ukraine’s border was a direct response to US aggression, citing the placement of US missile systems in Ukraine.
“The US is deploying its missiles close to our home, on the porch of our house,” Putin said. “What would the Americans think if we came to the border between Canada or the US, or Mexico, and deploy our own missiles over there?”
Magnay also asked Putin what the West “does not understand about Russia,” to which Putin suggested that the US had been trying to break up Russia for more than 100 years.
—Sky News (@SkyNews) December 23, 2021
“Here’s the thing. Back in 1918, one of the assistants of Woodrow Wilson, the US president, said that the whole world would feel calmer and safer if today’s enormous Russia would be replaced with the states of Siberia and four more states in the European part of Russia,” he said.
“In 1991 we separated in 12 separate parts. It seems to be our partners aren’t satisfied with that, they think that Russia is too large.”
President Joe Biden has said the US would come to Ukraine’s defense if Russia invades.
Read the original article on Business Insider 
