Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the American presence in Afghanistan lasted 20 years without making any progress, resulting only in tragedy and losses. During a meeting with school students on Wednesday, marking the start of the new school year, Putin referred to the events occurring not far from them, specifically Afghanistan. He said that for two decades, American forces were present in that region and attempted to "civilize" the people, which effectively meant imposing their standards and way of life in the broadest sense, including in the political system of society.
He added, "The result is nothing but tragedies and losses, affecting those who undertook this task as well as, to a greater extent, the Afghan people. The result is zero, if not less than that, so to speak."
Putin emphasized the need to "recognize the reality that it is impossible to impose anything from the outside," stating, "The situation must mature. If someone wants to do this more quickly and effectively, it requires helping the people."
He continued, "Yes, it can and should be done, but it must be done in a civilized manner, through careful and calculated steps, supporting positive trends without haste... Patience is essential," adding that "without all these factors in place, it is practically impossible to achieve any positive result."
