Putin Blames NATO Yugoslavia Attack for Global Tensions at Valdai Forum

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Valdai Discussion Club on October 1, 2026, arguing that NATO's 1999 intervention in Yugoslavia triggered the erosion of international order. He rejected claims that Russia started the war in Ukraine, stating the West turned the country into an anti-Russian base. Putin claimed global tensions will ease as Western hegemony weakens, leading to a multipolar world, though he warned of inevitable risks during the transition. He asserted that post-WWII institutions no longer reflect modern reality and highlighted the rise of structures like BRICS. Putin accused leading European nations of adopting a more aggressive posture toward Moscow than the United States, suggesting they manufacture crises to justify war preparation and mobilize domestic support for ruling elites. He also pointed to economic difficulties in Europe as the root of political instability, while acknowledging Ukraine had achieved "certain results" on the battlefield.