From 'biological weapons' to 'pro-Nazi' Ukraine: How Putin is trying to justify the war

Last Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech on Russia's war against Ukraine that was filled with accusations against the West, and not-so-subtle threats for alleged traitors of the country.

In this analysis, we look at how Putin is trying to justify the war both to Russian citizens and to the world.

Vladimir Putin speech, March 16

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Taking part in our meeting are senior government officials, plenipotentiary presidential envoys in the federal districts and heads of Russian regions.

We are meeting in a complicated period as our armed forces are conducting a

I would like to remind you that at the beginning, on the morning of February 24, I publicly announced the reasons for and the main goal of Russia's actions.

It is to help our people in Donbas, who have been subjected to

for nearly eight years in the most barbarous ways, that is, through a blockade, large-scale punitive operations, terrorist attacks and constant artillery raids.

Their only transgression was to demand basic human rights: to live according to their forefathers' laws and traditions, to

, and to bring up their children as they see fit.

During these years, Kyiv authorities have ignored and sabotaged the implementation of the

for a peaceful settlement of the crisis and ultimately late last year openly refused to implement it.

They also started to implement plans to join NATO.

Moreover, Kyiv authorities also announced their intention to acquire

and delivery vehicles.

This was a real threat.

With foreign technical support, the

would have obtained weapons of mass destruction in the foreseeable future and, of course, would have aimed them at Russia.

There was a network of dozens of laboratories in Ukraine, where

were conducted under the guidance and with the financial support of the Pentagon, including experiments with coronavirus strains, anthrax, cholera, African swine fever and other deadly diseases.

Frantic attempts are being made to conceal traces of these secret programs.

However, we have grounds to assume that components of biological weapons were being created in direct proximity to Russia on the territory of Ukraine.

Our numerous warnings that such developments posed a direct threat to the security of Russia were rejected with open and cynical arrogance by Ukraine and its US and NATO patrons.

In other words, all our diplomatic efforts were fully in vain.

We have been left with no peaceful alternative to settle the problems that developed through no fault of ours.

In this situation,

to begin this special military operation.