On the Brink of War

This selection of speeches from the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, shows the prelude to the quick escalation of events that have brought Europe to the brink of war in February 2022. The selection begins with the famous speech at the Valdai International Discussion Club in October 2021 and ends with the last speech on February 23, 2022. During these few months, Putin mentions his views of the West as a decadent land, where traditional values have been replaced by bizarre obsessions about race, gender, and diversity. His focus on the problem posed by the NATO expansion is very recurrent and is a clear anticipation of the events that will unfold with the Ukraine crisis in February 2022.