Putin uses Russian Unity Day to criticise Ukraine and the West
President Vladimir Putin addresses religious leaders and takes questions from historians and public figures at an event to mark Russia's People's Unity Day, a public holiday. The event at Moscow's Manege museum accompanies the opening of a historical exhibition about Ukraine, which Putin also attended.
November 4 is celebrated as National Unity Day in Russia. It commemorates the expulsion of Polish troops from Moscow in 1612.
On National Unity Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin used the occasion to once again justify the war against Ukraine and make accusations against the West.
"The so-called friends of Ukraine have pushed the situation to a point where it became dangerous for Russia and suicidal for the Ukrainian people," Putin said in Moscow, according to Russian news agency reports.
Putin said Western policy was aimed at "weakening, dividing, destroying Russia."
"We will never allow this. We will protect our homeland as our forefathers did," the Russian leader said during a speech to historians and religious representatives.
Once again he labelled the Ukrainian leadership "neo-Nazi" and said a regime clash between the two countries was inevitable.
Putin ordered his troops to invade the neighbouring country on February 24 of this year.
Ukraine is fighting back aided by foreign support, with its army making significant gains in recent weeks.
