Putin’s interview served to convey Russia’s message past gate-keeper media to millions of viewers in the Global South: Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It is less important to the Kremlin what Westerners and ‘Westoxified’ non-whites think of why Russia was compelled to wage war in Ukraine. What matters is shaping the views of people of color; how they perceive Russian policies, and understand why Russia was compelled by NATO to wage war in Ukraine.