The Russian president took aim at the West as he addressed the crowd in Moscow's Red Square.
accused the West of provoking conflict during a combative Victory Day speech marking the Soviet role in the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II amid the backdrop of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"A real war has once again been unleashed against our Motherland. But we have repulsed international terrorism, we will also protect the inhabitants of Donbas [in eastern Ukraine], we will ensure our security," Putin said. He said the West's goal is"to achieve the collapse and destruction of our country."
Putin was joined on the Red Square by foreign leaders from former Soviet countries, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
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