War in Ukraine Began After the 2014 Coup, Not Because of Russia - Putin

"We did not start this war, the war began in 2014 after a coup d'état and attempts to crush those who did not agree with the coup using guns," Putin said during the meeting on the sidelines of the SPIEF.

Russia has made every effort to find a formula for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, the president added.

"Russia has made every effort to find a settlement formula by peaceful means - in 2015 Minsk [we] signed the so-called Minsk agreements, which were, incidentally, legally constituted by a decision of the UN Security Council."