Putin Accuses the West of “Complete Degradation” in Blistering Criticism
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sharply criticized Western countries, saying Russia once hoped to become part of the European and Western community following the collapse of the Soviet Union, but now views the West very differently.
“Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it seemed to us that we would quickly become members of the so-called ‘civilized’ family of European peoples, the Western family. Today, it turns out that there is no civilization there, only complete degradation,” Putin said.
His remarks reflect Moscow’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric toward Western nations amid years of escalating political tensions and disputes over Russia’s relationship with Europe and the United States.