Putin talked that Ukraine is / must be part of Russia as early as 2001

From UNIAN:

"Putin claimed "rights to Ukraine" 20 years ago: The US declassified his conversation with Bush 

Bogdan Frolov, 25.12.25 

The US National Security Archive has released a transcript of a 2001 meeting.

Even in the early years of his presidency, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukraine was part of Russia, surrendered by the Soviet Union's party leaders. This is evidenced by a transcript of a conversation between him and 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush, published by the US National Security Archive."

Here is the quote: 

"Putin prefers to talk about the need to combat terrorism and security threats. He is assertive and dominates the conversation, deflecting Bush’s question on press restrictions. He gives Bush a brief history lecture on (his interpretation) of the breakup of the Soviet Union: “What really happened? Soviet good will changed the world, voluntarily. And Russians gave up thousands of square kilometers of territory, voluntarily. Unheard of. Ukraine, part of Russia for centuries, given away. Kazakhstan, given away. The Caucasus, too. Hard to imagine, and done by party bosses.” Putin raises a question of Russian NATO membership and says Russia feels “left out.”" 

Here is how Heorhii Tykhyi from the Ukrainian foreign ministry comments on X: 

"Heorhii Tykhyi 

@SpoxUkraineMFA

Putin denied Ukraine’s right to exist in 2001. 21 years before full-scale invasion and 13 years before the Revolution of Dignity, which he often blames as the “root cause” for the war. The root cause has always been and remains the imperial tumor in his and other Russian heads."