Putin Signals End to ‘One-Sided Relations’ with the West at EAEU Summit in Minsk
In a strong statement delivered from Minsk during the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decisive shift in Russia’s foreign policy approach, declaring that Moscow will no longer engage in what he termed “one-sided games” with Western countries.
Putin’s remarks, as covered by Russian media, reflect a growing rift between Russia and the Western alliance. He accused Western governments of violating past commitments—particularly those related to NATO’s expansion—and of leveraging fears of so-called “Russian aggression” to justify ramping up military expenditures and expanding defense infrastructure across Europe. “They are distorting the truth,” Putin asserted, pointing to NATO’s push to increase defense budgets to 5% of GDP as an example of misplaced priorities.
The Russian leader also challenged the dominant Western narrative surrounding the Ukraine conflict. Referring to the military actions initiated by Moscow, Putin suggested that the roots of the crisis stretch back several decades, alleging that Russia had been misled repeatedly by Western powers about NATO’s strategic intentions. “We were assured of one thing, but faced repeated waves of NATO enlargement instead,” he said.
Further criticizing the West’s consistent dismissal of Russia’s national security concerns, Putin characterized such disregard as a form of provocation. He argued that it is this very attitude—the refusal to acknowledge Moscow’s concerns—that fuels instability, not Russian policy itself.
Putin’s address in Minsk marks a notable hardening of Russia’s diplomatic tone. It suggests a future trajectory where Moscow will demand mutual respect and parity in its dealings with Western countries, signaling the end of what it perceives as decades of diplomatic imbalance.
