Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again launched a scathing attack on the West over the ongoing war in Ukraine, claiming that the crisis was a “tragedy that could have been prevented” had NATO not expanded towards Russia’s borders.

In his statement, President Putin described the war as painful and tragic for both the Russian and Ukrainian people but accused the West of showing no remorse. “They are merely using Ukraine to serve their own interests,” he said.

He also claimed that if Donald Trump had been President of the United States, Russia would never have had to launch a military operation against Ukraine. Furthermore, he accused European nations of fueling the risk of direct conflict with Russia.

“If any country wants to challenge Russia militarily, they are welcome to try,” Putin declared, adding, “No power on earth can dictate to a sovereign nation what it should or should not do.”

The Russian leader emphasized that a global balance cannot be maintained without Russia. “Our adversaries have failed in their attempts to push us out of the global order,” he stated firmly.