Russia did not start the war in Ukraine but launched special military operation to stop it: President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his position that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine but launched what it calls a special military operation to try to stop it. During his yearly speech to Valdai Discussion Club, in Sochi on Thursday, 

Mr Putin said, Russia, the



world's largest country by area, had no need to take territory from Ukraine. He said, the conflict was not therefore imperial or territorial but about the global order. He said, the West after losing its hegemonic power, has also lost touch with reality.