Former Ukrainian President Discusses Putin's Obsession

Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be obsessed with Ukraine due to a mental disorder. "People say that his (Putin's) obsession with Ukraine is a kind of madness or mental disorder. Perhaps that’s true," Kuchma stated in an interview with The Guardian.

Kuchma also characterized Putin as a KGB operative. "This is his profession, with all the consequences that come from it," he noted.

He revealed that on February 24, 2022, during the Russian invasion, he was in central Kyiv with his wife, Lyudmila. "I was confident that Putin could invade, but I wasn't sure if he would dare to do so," he said.

According to Kuchma, Putin's goal was not only to seize territory but also to annihilate Ukraine's "concept as a competitive alternative to Russia." He concluded, "The proof of this is the horrific human losses and the sacrifice of reputation that Putin is willing to make for it."