Putin says the world faces most dangerous decade since WW2

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the world is facing the most dangerous decade since World War Two and accused the West of playing a “dangerous, bloody, and dirty” game. 

During a public appearance, Putin said he had no regret about what he called “a special operation” taking place in Ukraine, claiming that the West had incited the war. 

“The historical period of the West's undivided dominance over world affairs is coming to an end," Putin said. "We are standing at a historical frontier: Ahead is probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important decade since the end of World War Two."

During his speech at the Valdai Discussion Club, a conference of international policy experts, the Russian leader also blamed the West for increasing nuclear tensions, citing former British Prime Minister Liz Truss when she said that London was ready to use nuclear deterrents if the circumstances demanded it. 

Putin also accused the West of “forcing the thesis that Russia will use nuclear weapons” to get countries to stand against Russia. He added that Russia’s military doctrine only allows for nuclear weapons to be used for “defense” purposes. 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has caused the largest confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis in the middle of the Cold War. 

Putin said that ultimately, the West would have to talk to Russia. Moscow “had one message” for the “leading countries of the West and NATO: let’s stop being enemies, let’s live together,” he added. 

The White House responded to Putin’s remarks by saying the Russian president was not saying anything new and did not seem to change his strategic goals.