Putin blasts US ‘hegemony’ and predicts the end of a ‘unipolar’ world order

Vladimir Putin and defence minister Sergei Shoigu (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of trying to encourage extended hostilities in Ukraine as part of what he described on Tuesday as Washington’s alleged efforts to maintain its global hegemony.

Addressing a security conference attended by military officials from Africa, Asia and Latin America, Mr Putin reaffirmed his long-held claim that he sent troops into Ukraine in response to Washington turning the country into an “anti-Russia” bulwark.