In a recent interview with France 24, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed the underlying motivations behind Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Kuleba framed the conflict not merely as a geopolitical dispute, but as a personal project driven by Putin’s obsession with his historical legacy.

Kuleba referenced the Bronze Horseman statue in St. Petersburg, which honors Peter the Great and was commissioned by Catherine the Great. By invoking this imagery, Kuleba suggested that Putin views himself as a successor to these figures, aiming to be remembered as a transformative leader who expanded Russian territory. According to Kuleba, Putin’s decision-making process is heavily influenced by how future generations will record his actions, prioritizing historical status over other strategic or humanitarian considerations.

While Kuleba’s assessment focuses on the psychological and historical drivers of the conflict, the analysis highlights a perspective that views the war as an extension of Russian imperial identity. The interview serves to characterize the current hostilities as a manifestation of Putin’s desire to solidify his place in the annals of Russian history, regardless of the cost to Ukraine or the international order.