Commentary
On June 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a highly anticipated speech delivered at the 25th St Peterburg International Economic Forum, said that the West “crudely and shamelessly impose their ethics, their views on culture and ideas about history, sometimes questioning the sovereignty and integrity of states, and threatening their very existence.”
Commentators have largely overlooked Putin’s comments about the West’s imposition of their “ethics” instead of focusing on his discussion of the effect of economic sanctions on Russia and the justification for Russia’s “special military action” in Ukraine.
Putin’s comments should be considered carefully because they imply that the West’s imposition of “their ethics” and “their views on culture and ideas” threaten Russia’s existence….