Vladimir Putin says Ukraine 'started the war' and Russia had to 'end it'

Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine 'started the war' and Russia had to 'end it' in a speech railing against the West.

The Russian president also praised his soldiers during his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday (February 21). The speech was expected to set the tone for the year ahead and shed light on how the Kremlin sees its bogged-down war in Ukraine.

Mr Putin has frequently justified his invasion of Ukraine by accusing western countries of threatening Russia. They say nothing could be further from the truth, saying Moscow’s forces attacked Ukraine unprovoked.

READ MORE: 'My husband, he did it,' tragic woman screamed after running into the street on fire

Mr Putin said in a speech in front of politicians, state officials and soldiers who have fought in Ukraine: "It’s they who have started the war and we are using force to end it." While the Constitution says the president should deliver the speech annually, Mr Putin never gave one in 2022 as his troops rolled into Ukraine and suffered repeated setbacks.

This year’s address comes days before the war’s first anniversary on Friday. Before the speech, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader would focus on the “special military operation” in Ukraine, as Moscow calls it, and Russia’s economy and social issues.

Many observers also expected the speech to address Moscow’s fallout with the West. And Mr Putin began with strong words for those countries.

The West is aware “it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield” so it launches “aggressive information attacks” by “misconstruing historical facts” attacking Russian culture, religion and values, Mr Putin said in the speech broadcast by all state TV channels.

Citing another