Vladimir Putin condemns West for UN charter breach, cites Yugoslav split

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Western nations have taken actions that violate the United Nations Charter, describing the move as “releasing the genie from the bottle.” He linked these decisions to the breakup of Yugoslavia, noting the division of the Serbian people into separate national entities.

Putin also recalled promises made to Mikhail Gorbachev not to expand NATO eastward, claiming the West ignored those commitments. He asserted that Russia possesses advanced weapons such as the “cirkon” missiles and will defend its interests, emphasizing that the presence of Russian forces in the Arctic is meant to protect Russian security rather than threaten anyone.

The remarks were made during a meeting with Russian naval personnel in St. Petersburg on 27 July.