Feb 21 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country will end its participation in the new START nuclear aid treaty with the United States in his State of the Union address on Tuesday in Moscow, while accusing the United States and its allies of escalating the war in Ukraine.
“No one has the ghost that global strategic parity can be violated,” Putin said.
“The elite of the West hides its ambitions, which are to strategically defeat Russia,” Putin said in his speech. “What does this mean? It means ending once and for all. “
Putin reiterated that Russia forced Ukraine to invade to protect its own country and that the Kremlin had done “everything possible” to save it. He blamed the West for moving away from “terrorist activities” in eastern Ukraine opposed to his supporters.
“I need to repeat: they are the ones who are at war,” Putin said. “And we have used and continue to use force to prevent it. “
During his speech, Putin accused the Kiev government under Zelensky of being under the cover of “Western masters” and of serving the interests of its citizens.