Putin lambasted the West on New Year’s Eve for its hypocrisy and aggression

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin used his New Year’s address to the nation to accuse Western countries of aggression and trying to use the conflict in Ukraine to undermine Moscow.

Putin recorded the video address at a military headquarters, with soldiers in the background. This was a stark departure from his past practice of recording the message in front of the snowy Kremlin.

“It was a year of difficult, necessary decisions, the most important steps toward gaining full sovereignty of Russia and powerful consolidation of our society,” he said, echoing his repeated contention that Moscow had no choice but to send troops into Ukraine because it threatened Russia’s security.

“The West lied about peace, but was preparing for aggression, and today it admits it openly, no longer embarrassed. And they cynically use Ukraine and its people to weaken and split Russia,” Putin said. “We have never allowed anyone and will not allow anyone to do this.”

The Kremlin has muzzled any criticism of its actions in Ukraine, shut independent media outlets and criminalized the spread of any information that differs from the official view — including diverging from calling the campaign a special military operation. Russian hardliners have voiced their disapproval of the government, calling him weak and indecisive. They also called for an increase in strikes on Ukraine.

Russia claims that Ukraine has persecuted Russian speakers within the eastern Donbas, where they have been partially under the control Russian-backed separatists’ control since 2014. These accusations are not true according to the West and Ukraine.

“For years, the Western elites hypocritically assured all of us of their peaceful intentions, including the resolution of the most difficult conflict in the Donbas,” Putin said.

Many foreign companies have pulled out of Russia or frozen operations following the deployment of troops by Russia.

“This year, a real sanctions war was declared on us. It was expected that it would result in the total destruction of our industry and finances as well as transport. This did not happen, because together we created a reliable margin of safety,” Putin said.