Vladimir Putin warns U.S. in speech: 'The Cold War is over. But it did not end with peace.'

Vladimir Putin warns U.S. in speech: 'The Cold War is over. But it did not end with peace.'
(Image credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a Friday speech to promise that international forces would not topple Moscow from its place of power.

"The bear is the master of the taiga," Putin said in the speech, reported by the Los Angeles Times. "It is not going to move to another climate. It's not going to give up its taiga to anyone."

Speaking to Russian scholars during the country's annual Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin jumped back and forth between claiming that he only wants international respect for his country, and warning the West against interference into the Kremlin's operations.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

"The Cold War is over. But it did not end with peace," Putin said.

He blamed the United States for ongoing conflicts in countries such as Syria and Iraq, and he suggested that Washington's role in Ukraine amounted to a "coup d'etat" of former president Viktor Yanukovich, who was supported by Moscow and ousted from power in February. Putin also dismissed accusations that Russia is supporting separatist militants in eastern Ukraine.

"Statements that Russia is trying to reinstate some sort of empire encroaching on the sovereignty of neighbors, are groundless," he said.

Continue reading for free

We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.

Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.

Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.