Photo: kremlin.ru
Ignoring the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Munich Security Conference in 2007 was a mistake of the West, writes columnist Harlan Ullman in the material of The Hill.
In a speech at the Munich Security Conference in 2007, Putin harshly criticized the foreign policy of the United States and the idea of a unipolar world order, sharply opposed plans for NATO expansion and the deployment of American missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe.
Ulman notes that then Putin called for the creation of a multipolar world. “The participants of the meeting were shocked by the vigor of Putin’s attacks, but in general they brushed them off. It was a mistake,” he believes.
According to the observer, the Russian president perceived such a reaction of the West as disrespect. “This has exacerbated his growing resentment over their arrogant attitude towards Russia,” Ullman wrote.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that after the Munich speech there was a chance for the West to understand the futility of a unipolar world, and ignoring Russia’s calls “led to a dangerous line.”