During a recent live event, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the decision to launch the special military operation in Ukraine should have been made earlier than February 2022. He expressed that a more systematic preparation for the operation was necessary. Reflecting on the past three years, Putin acknowledged the challenges faced by Russia and himself, asserting that if he could revisit the situation in 2022, he would advocate for an earlier invasion rather than waiting for Russia's position to deteriorate. This sentiment was echoed in multiple reports, emphasizing that Putin believes the offensive should have commenced sooner.