he independent Russian newspaper Verstka published a report last week titled “How Putin Began to Hate Ukraine.”

The article quotes Ukrainian and Russian officials, who claim that Putin’s “true motives” for the invasion of Ukraine were driven by a desire to take revenge on Ukrainian President Zelensky, writes the Daily Mail.

In 2021, Zelenskyy sanctioned Ukrainian politician and friend of Russia Viktor Medvedchuk, following accusations that Medvedchuk financed terrorism.

According to three sources close to Putin, it was “the last straw” and Putin was ready for a full-scale military operation.

Viktor Medvedtsyuk led the pro-Russian opposition party Opposition Platform – For Life, before he was put on Ukraine’s sanctions list in 2021.

In April 2022, he was arrested after he escaped from house arrest pending the trial which could mean that Medvedtsjuk was convicted of treason.

Later that year, he was released in a prisoner exchange with Russia. He has lost his Ukrainian citizenship and now lives in Russia.

The ties between Putin and Medvedtsyuk are said to be so close that the report assumes that the Russian president is the godfather of Medvedchuk’s youngest daughter, according to Newsweek.