A Kremlin aide has written a history textbook for 16-18 year olds that gives Vladimir Putin’s interpretation of the causes of the Ukraine war. 

The final chapter of the 447-page History of Russia 1945 - the start of 21st Century is titled "Russia Today - The Special Military Operation". 

It reflects on Mr Putin's disillusionment with the West after he offered Russia's support to the US during the 9/11 attacks in a gesture of post-Cold War friendship. 

"The West became fixated with destabilising the situation inside Russia," the book, a copy of which the Reuters news agency has reviewed, says.  

"The aim was not even hidden: to dismember Russia and to get control over its resources." 

The book, co-written by aide Vladimir Medinsky and Anatoly Torkunov, rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, asks students to answer the question: "What reasons forced Russia to start the Special Military Operation?" 

The answer, the book says, is a struggle for control of Ukraine between Russia and the West which fanned "Ukrainian neo-Nazism" in an attempt to undermine Russia.  

It describes Ukrainian attempts to ban Russian books, music, films and Russian language teaching. 

"Gradually, the United States and NATO started to prepare Ukraine for the role of the main battering ram against Russia," it says. 

The book, part of a set of four that also cover the fall of the USSR and Mr Putin's time in power, is due to enter schools next month.

(Source: Sky News)