We Do Not Consider Ourselves Responsible for Deaths. We Did Not Start This War. Putin

Russia does not consider itself responsible for the deaths that occurred during the special military operation, as it did not start the war. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the "Year-End Summary" conference.

An NBC journalist asked the Russian leader whether Moscow would consider itself responsible for the deaths of Ukrainians and Russians during the 2026 conflict if it rejects U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan.

"We do not consider ourselves responsible for the deaths since we did not start this war," Putin remarked.

The president reminded that this "war began with the coup in Ukraine, the unconstitutional armed coup in 2014, and then the military operations against their own citizens initiated by Kyiv's leaders in eastern Ukraine."