'Putin’s ludicrous claim Russia did not start war is sign of damaged leader'

21 February 2023 , 22:54

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Ukraine’s agony is not over, but nor will it roll over for Putin as long as freedom-loving countries stand by Zelensky’s people (Image: Dmitry Astakhov/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Vladimir Putin’s ludicrous assertion that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine is the rhetoric of a damaged leader trying to justify a backfiring military adventure.

It is a sobering thought, ahead of Friday’s first anniversary of the invasion, that had the Ukrainians not defended their country with such valour, or had the US, Britain, Germany and other democracies not supplied weapons, it would have been Putin in Kyiv this week instead of Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainians remain defiant but they have suffered grievously from the brutality of invaders targeting civilians, killing indiscriminately and committing horrific war crimes.

Putin sabre-rattling once more about nuclear weapons, pulling out of a treaty with the US limiting weapons of mass destruction, smacks of desperation rather than strength.

Ukraine’s agony is not over. But nor will it roll over for Putin as long as freedom-loving countries stand by Zelensky’s people.

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How we stop it giving a platform to the worst excesses of these unregulated peddlers of lies is a challenge that must be confronted, or other families will suffer in the future.

Nicola’s family, through the police, also criticised two named TV broadcasters and the press in general, but we wish to reassure Daily Mirror readers that your favourite newspaper, governed by strict rules, was not singled out.

We go to great lengths to be fair and treat people with respect.

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