Putin opens Moscow speech on 'historic events'
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened his state of the union speech in Moscow with familiar touchstones, including ridding the world of Nazism and liberating Ukraine's Donbas region.
He said of his Ukrainian invasion that the "historic events will determine the future of our country ... each of us is bound by a huge responsibility."
![PHOTO: Participants gather to listen Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual state of the nation address in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2023.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/94637333-7207-40bf-a191-63c17fd10249/moscow-s_hpEmbed_20230221-042143_3x2.jpg)
And he said he sought an "open dialogue" with the West, but also blamed Western countries and Ukraine's leaders for holding the country's people "hostage."
![PHOTO: A view a virtually empty Red Square closed for security prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual state of the nation address, in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2023.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/895aee75-6945-4df8-8938-e48057abd51c/moscow-redsqu_hpEmbed_20230221-035314_3x2.jpg)
"The United States and NATO have been rapidly deploying their bases and biolabs at the borders of our country," he said.
He said Russia tried to settle the conflict in the Donbas region by peaceful means, adding that the West's commitment to peace turned out to be "fraud" and a "cruel lie."
![PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 21, 2023.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/putin-mos_hpMain_20230221-050732.jpg)
Putin said they were open to dialogue with the West and were open to an equal system of security, but "in response we were getting dishonest answers" and specific actions to expand NATO and deploy new anti-missile systems in Europe. He said that "the whole planet is dotted" with U.S. bases.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti