Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

'I was naive about the West': Putin

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Dec 2023 17:32
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Putin has consistently asserted that the West had intentions to partition Russia into multiple states.

  • x
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks addressing the 4th Railway Congress at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. (AP)
    Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks addressing the 4th Railway Congress at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 (AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that he made a mistake in expecting the West to build constructive ties with Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He clarified that, in truth, the West was intent on dismantling the nation rather than fostering positive relations, according to the Russian leader.

During an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin broadcast on Sunday, Putin conceded that he was a "naive" leader in the initial stages of his political career, despite his robust background in Soviet intelligence.

The Russian president said that he had believed that the West understood that Russia had become a completely different country after the collapse of the Soviet Union and that no further ideological differences were warranting a serious standoff.

Read more: Putin: Ukraine war a 'great tragedy' resulting from Western desires

Putin asserted that even when he observed Western initiatives supporting terrorism and separatism in Russia two decades ago, he attributed it to the "inertia of thinking." He believed that it was a matter of the West being accustomed to combating the Soviet Union, and he considered this perspective to be a contributing factor.

Related News

1,200 soldiers from 4 NATO states train river crossing in Germany

At NATO summit, Trump signals Iran nuclear deal, discusses Ukraine

In actuality, the president stated that the West was intentionally working to undermine Russia. "After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they thought they just had to wait a little longer, and then they would break Russia apart as well."

He said that the West perceived no necessity for the presence of the world's largest country, with its substantial population. "It would be better, as suggested by… [former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew] Brzezinski, to divide it into five parts and subjugate them one by one."

He clarified that this purported Western strategy relied on the idea that numerous smaller states "would have no weight or voice of their own, and would have no chance to defend their national interests in the way that the united Russian state has."

The Russian leader seemed to be alluding to a 1997 article written by Brzezinski, a staunch advocate of Soviet containment who passed away in 2017. In the article, Brzezinski proposed that Moscow should relinquish "a futile effort to regain its status as a global power." The former White House adviser also suggested that a "loosely confederated Russia, composed of a European Russia, a Siberian Republic, and a Far Eastern Republic," would find it easier to cultivate economic relationships with its neighbors.

Putin has consistently asserted that the West had intentions to partition Russia into multiple states. He cautioned that the Russian people might face extinction if such a scenario unfolded, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining unity as a key condition for the country's success.

Read more: Putin to run for 2024 Russian presidential elections

  • Nato
  • Russia
  • West
  • Putin
  • Sanctions on Russia
  • Western sanctions
  • Western Nations
  • Vladimir Putin
  • European Union

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS