Russian President Vladimir Putin now claims some countries "promote colonialism" which led to a "dire crisis" in Ukraine.

He says Russia's actions in Ukraine are in response to a war "unleashed" by the West.

Putin says their "aspiration" to "preserve their hegemony in the world", led to a coup d'etat in Ukraine (in 2014).

"Russia decided to support people that fight for their culture, for their traditions, for their language, and for their future," he claims.

He says Russia's actions in Ukraine are designed to "put an end to the war that was unleashed by the West against people in Donbas [in eastern Ukraine]".

Meanwhile, Gen Sergei Surovikin - who was previously in charge of Russia's forces in Ukraine - has been sacked from his latest role.

Surovikin - nicknamed "General Armageddon" - hasn't been seen in public since the Wagner rebellion in June.