Putin says Russian offensive in Ukraine is ‘response to Western policies’

Russian President Vladimir Putin, centre, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, in Moscow, Russia, on Monday May 9 2022 (Anton Novoderezhkin/ Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on western policies and said it was necessary to ward off potential aggression.

Speaking at a military parade in Red Square to mark the Second World War victory over Nazi Germany, Mr Putin drew parallels between the Red Army’s fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces’ action in Ukraine.