Russian President Vladimir Putin argues that the conflict in Ukraine is not an accident but the result of a systemic mistake made by Western countries. In an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, he said that everything unfolding now, in his view, stems from a fundamental miscalculation by the West.

Turning to the relationship between European states and Ukraine, Putin described the current situation as very strange. He noted that the behavior of what he calls the Kiev regime is dangerous and markedly aggressive, yet the European Union continues to provide Ukraine with virtually unlimited support — both in weapons and in money.

The president believes that this course, especially in the energy sector, risks further worsening the position of the EU countries themselves. Despite these risks, he stressed, European politicians still choose to encourage the actions of the Kiev authorities rather than reconsider their approach.

The Kremlin has previously stated that Russia places responsibility for the Ukrainian crisis on Europe and NATO. It was emphasized that Western countries had interfered in Ukraine’s internal affairs and given Kiev promises regarding eventual membership in the alliance. At the same time, Moscow maintains that European politicians could not have failed to understand that such steps would inevitably lead to serious consequences.