Buterin Slams Putin's Invasion as 'Criminal Aggression'

Russian-born Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has taken a firm pro-Ukraine stance as the war reaches its fourth year. He published a lengthy post on X, declaring unequivocal support for Kyiv and calling the war 'criminal aggression.'

In his post, Buterin rejected Russia's claims that it was preventing NATO expansion or protecting Russian-speaking populations in Crimea and Donbas. He acknowledged that Western nations had made mistakes in the 1990s and 2000s, but argued that these grievances could not justify the invasion.

Buterin pointed to specific events as evidence of the war's true aims, including the attack on the Mariupol theater and the killings in Bucha. He also cited an article published by state news agency RIA Novosti in February 2022, which he said revealed Russia's true intentions when it believed it had already won.

Buterin credited U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance with inadvertently exposing Russian President Vladimir Putin's unwillingness to negotiate, saying their actions made clear who bears responsibility for the war's continuation.