Vladimir Putin’s View of the End of the Unipolar World

Whatever Western leaders may think of Vladimir Putin and his policies, they would do well to listen to his view of how the world is evolving and why. He expressed just that clearly in remarks to the Duma on July 7 (English translation available here). His criticism of the West’s policy is shared by a large majority of the world, outside of the transatlantic fishbowl, but also by growing numbers of people inside it. In that light, we report a few quotes.

The Russian President noted that after decades of rejecting Russia’s proposals for “equal security” in Europe, a war was finally unleashed and sanctions were imposed. But, they “should have realized that they would lose from the very beginning of our special military operation, because this operation also means the beginning of a radical breakdown of the U.S.-style world order. This is the beginning of the transition from liberal-globalist American egocentrism to a truly multipolar world based not on self-serving rules made up by someone for their own needs, behind which there is nothing but striving for hegemony, not on hypocritical double standards, but on international law and the genuine sovereignty of nations and civilizations, on their will to live their historical destiny, with their own values and traditions, and to align cooperation on the basis of democracy, justice and equality.

“Everyone should understand that this process cannot be stopped. The course of history is inexorable, and the collective West’s attempts to impose its new world order on the rest of the world are doomed.”

Putin further pointed out that the “ruling classes of the Western countries, which are supranational and globalist in nature, realized that their policies are increasingly detached from reality, common sense and the truth, and they have started resorting to openly despotic methods. The West, which once declared such principles of democracy as freedom of speech, pluralism and respect for dissenting opinions, has now degenerated into the opposite: totalitarianism. This includes censorship, media bans, and the arbitrary treatment of journalists and public figures.”

Coming to the situation in Ukraine, he issued a strong warning: “Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. Well, what can I say? Let them try. We have already heard a lot about the West wanting to fight us ‘to the last Ukrainian.’ This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but that seems to be where it is going. But everyone should know that, by and large, we have not started anything in earnest yet. At the same time, we are not rejecting peace talks, but those who are rejecting them should know that the longer it goes on, the harder it will be for them to negotiate with us.”