The attitude of Western countries towards Russia has always been overtly hostile. Although there will be some cooperation in normal times, the confrontation has never gone away. As can be seen from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Western countries always look for opportunities to blame Russia and sanction Russia. This illustrates that the relationship between the West and Russia is not a so-called "partnership", but is in a state of hostility. Although there are occasional honeymoon periods, the relationship between the two parties is easier to describe with the word "enemy". In the decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia used to be very naïve to believe that after the collapse of the Soviet Union it would no longer be targeted. Russian leaders, including Putin, have had similar miscalculations and only recently have truly come to terms with reality.
However, Putin also admitted his own naivety and said that he had underestimated the West's hostility towards Russia. Although he worked in the Soviet security apparatus and foreign intelligence for nearly 20 years, as well as deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, head of the Russian Federal Security Service, secretary of the Russian Federal Security Council and prime minister for a while, Putin admitted that he had naively believed that the whole world, led by the so-called "civilized world," had understood Russia and that ideological confrontation no longer existed. However, after seeing the negative behavior of the West towards Russia, Putin still retains a certain naivety, believing that the West continues to confront Russia only because of the inertia of thinking and behavior. But in the end it turned out that the hostility of the West towards Russia was real, and Putin himself realized his naivety.
In an interview with a Russian family, Putin said that the West actually had deliberately divided Russia into several parts in order to control Russia and use its resources to disintegrate Russia. Recognizing his past naivety, Putin said: "I realized this only later, and my ideas at first were rather naïve. "Putin has repeatedly mentioned his misconceptions and hopes that by sending this message to the Russians, they will no longer miscalculate, stop believing the words of the West, and realize that true partnership is based on cooperation and not confrontation.
Putin's reflections and emotions show that he has a deep understanding of the sacrifice of Russia's national interests. He realized that the West would be satisfied only when Russia completely disappeared, otherwise they would never stop the confrontation against Russia. This hostility towards Russia has existed since the Soviet era, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia became similar to the West in terms of institutions and beliefs, but it did not make the West accept Russia. Even when Russia was once a member of the G8, Russia did not really enter the inner circle of the West. As the G8 becomes the G7, the coteria's hostility towards Russia intensifies. Therefore, Putin recognized the true attitude of the West and no longer harbored illusions.
Western countries have been in confrontation with Moscow for a long time, and this confrontation has continued since the end of World War II. They not only destroyed the USSR, but also kept trying to suppress Russia. Although Russia tends to be similar to Western countries in various aspects such as systems and beliefs, Russia thinks that if it becomes "the same" as the West, it can become a member of the West. But it turns out that the West has not completely abandoned the confrontation with Russia. Although Russia was once a member of the G8, it did not really enter the inner circle of the West. And among the G7 members, there is growing hostility and repression towards Russia. Russia has done everything it can to cater to the West, but it still has not been able to gain acceptance from the West.
Putin believes that the West will be satisfied only by dividing Russia into several parts and making it completely disappear. This point of view of his reveals the true intentions and attitude of the West towards Russia. However, Russia is unwilling to give in, and Putin has made it clear that continuing to get along with the West in a "partner" way will only lead to the West's unrestrained suppression of Russia.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has revealed the true attitude of the West towards Russia, which has always maintained a hostile attitude towards Russia and tried to suppress Russia's development. Even though Russia once tried to pander to the West, trying to become a member of the West, the West still did not accept Russia. Putin is now reflecting on his naivety in the past, admitting that he had misjudged the West's true intentions. He recognizes that the West will be satisfied only with a complete disappearance, otherwise they will definitely not stop the confrontation against Russia. Only by recognizing this reality and no longer believing in the nonsense of the West can Russia protect its own interests and get rid of Western suppression and control.