Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western Europe of being primarily responsible for the ongoing hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, labeling the Ukraine crisis a “tragedy” that could have been prevented. During his address to the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin emphasized the preventable nature of the conflict, framing it as a failure of Western diplomacy. The speech was delivered at the plenary session “The Polycentric World: Instructions for Use,” where Putin reiterated Russia’s stance on global geopolitical dynamics.