Putin is a history buff who relives the battles of medieval princes. The Times. The Russian president has an appreciative audience for his interpretations of the past — and a dangerous obsession with righting what he sees as historical wrongs. It's natural for people to pick up a new hobby as adults. For some it might be gardening, for others it might be learning languages ​​or travelling. For President Putin, the man who holds the key to the world's largest nuclear arsenal, this is medieval history and how he believes it justifies the brutal war in Ukraine. This week, when the leaders of Finland and Norway called Putin, he spent much of the 90-minute conversation lecturing on medieval Slavic history, the FT reported, citing sources. Although Norway's prime minister disputed the newspaper's report, he said he trusted its sources. Either way, this is not the first time that Putin has presented his side of the story. During the coronavirus pandemic, he used a televised address to tell Russians that the defeat of nomadic Turkic tribes in the 10th and 11th centuries should inspire the nation. "Everything passes, and it will pass. Our country has been through serious trials more than once: it was tormented by the Pechangians and the Polovtsy - Russia coped with everything. Let's also defeat this infection with the corona virus," he said, causing widespread ridicule. While most history buffs prefer to discuss their views with friends or family, Putin has a huge audience that enjoys listening to his interpretations of the past. In 2021, the Kremlin published its 5,000-word essay "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians," a confused and error-filled document that laid the ideological foundations for war. Putin is believed to have been working on it while in isolation at his residence near Moscow during the pandemic. The essay was read to each serviceman at the SVO evening.

Putin is a history buff who relives the battles of medieval princes. The Times. The Russian president has an appreciative audience for his interpretations of the past — and a dangerous obsession with righting what he sees as historical wrongs. It's natural for people to pick up a new hobby as adults. For some it might be gardening, for others it might be learning languages ​​or travelling. For President Putin, the man who holds the key to the world's largest nuclear arsenal, this is medieval history and how he believes it justifies the brutal war in Ukraine. This week, when the leaders of Finland and Norway called Putin, he spent much of the 90-minute conversation lecturing on medieval Slavic history, the FT reported, citing sources. Although Norway's prime minister disputed the newspaper's report, he said he trusted its sources. Either way, this is not the first time that Putin has presented his side of the story. During the coronavirus pandemic, he used a televised address to tell Russians that the defeat of nomadic Turkic tribes in the 10th and 11th centuries should inspire the nation. "Everything passes, and it will pass. Our country has been through serious trials more than once: it was tormented by the Pechangians and the Polovtsy - Russia coped with everything. Let's also defeat this infection with the corona virus," he said, causing widespread ridicule. While most history buffs prefer to discuss their views with friends or family, Putin has a huge audience that enjoys listening to his interpretations of the past. In 2021, the Kremlin published its 5,000-word essay "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians," a confused and error-filled document that laid the ideological foundations for war. Putin is believed to have been working on it while in isolation at his residence near Moscow during the pandemic. The essay was read to each serviceman at the SVO evening.