This paper analyses how Putin legitimizes his role conceptions in order to justify his annexation of Crimea. In order to reduce the likelihood of the foreign role being challenged while subscribing to the ego and alter expectations, it is necessary for decision makers to legitimize role perceptions. In this paper, the concept of role legitimation is developed and two mechanisms for legitimating roles are proposed. The first mechanism is ego expectations, namely the revival of roles from a specific period of time that is deeply embedded as an inalienable historical feature of the state. The second is alter expectations, namely the reproduction of international expectations in foreign policy discourse. To illustrate the argument, Putin's speech after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 is analyzed.