 Putin, entire so-called civilized West, is fighting against us. Ukraine is a mere tool in the hands of the collective West, which is using it to fight Russia President Vladimir Putin said. He was speaking at a military hospital in Moscow, where he met servicemen wounded during the ongoing conflict. Asked about the enduring Western support for Kiev, the President said the elites of the collective West were actually the true enemy of Russia rather than Ukraine itself. The point is not that they are helping our enemy, but that they are our enemy. They are solving their own problems with Ukraine's hands, that's what it's all about. Putin stated, the conflict between Moscow and Kiev was orchestrated by Western elites, who seek to defeat Russia, he suggested. However, the collective West has been unable to achieve its goals, with the failure already showing in the change of its rhetoric on the conflict, the President explained. Those who only yesterday were talking about the need to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia are now looking for words on how to quickly end the conflict. We want to end the conflict too, and as quickly as possible, but only on our terms. We have no desire to fight forever, but we are not going to give up our positions either. Putin said, despite the fact that from time immemorial the West has had such a goal to deal with Russia, it looks like we deal with them first. And this is happening despite the fact that the entire so-called civilized West is fighting against us. Putin stated.