Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused the United States of organizing the 2014 Ukrainian overthrow of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, a Putin ally.
Putin made the claim in an op-ed published on the government’s website and German newspaper Die Zeit that also commemorated the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany invading Russia, Newsweek reported.
Putin detailed the end of World War II saying countries were forced to choose between Western countries and Russia.
“In fact, it was an ultimatum,” Putin wrote, “the consequences of such an aggressive policy can be seen in the example of the Ukrainian tragedy of 2014.”
“Why did you need to do this?” he said. “Why did the United States organize a coup?”
“Why did the countries of Europe weakly support it, provoking a split in Ukraine itself and the withdrawal of Crimea from its composition?” Putin wrote.
In 2014, an uprising against Yanukovych occurred after months of unrest following a trade deal that was rejected with the European Union, which resulted in Yanukovych being ousted from office and the overthrow of the Ukrainian government.
The revolution in part resulted in the annexation of Crimea by Russian troops.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to Ukraine amid recent Russian aggression.
“What we’re doing is making clear our commitment to helping Ukraine defend itself with security assistance,” Blinken said in May. The international community “is resolutely against any Russian aggression, reckless actions in Ukraine.”