The West has repeatedly criticized Putin for his reckless use of nuclear rhetoric
Moscow:
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that the West faces a “real” risk of nuclear war if it escalates the conflict in Ukraine.
In a defiant speech in Moscow, the Russian leader said his soldiers were advancing in Ukraine and warned the West that any country that dared to send troops to Kiev would face “tragic consequences”.
“They have announced the possibility of sending Western military contingents to Ukraine… The consequences of possible interventionists will be even more tragic,” Putin said in his annual address to the nation.
“They should finally realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory,” Putin said. “Everything proposed by the West creates a real threat of conflict using nuclear weapons, thus destroying civilization.”
His comments appeared to be a response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal earlier this week to rule out sending troops to Ukraine, a refusal that drew rebuffs from European leaders.
Since Moscow launched a full-scale military offensive against Ukraine, Western leaders have repeatedly criticized Putin for what they consider to be his reckless use of nuclear rhetoric.
Putin has appeared to tone down his nuclear threat in recent months, after withdrawing Russia from an arms control treaty with the United States and warning that his readiness to use nuclear weapons was “not a bluff.”
But the new warning comes as the Kremlin has been boosted by recent developments on the battlefield in Ukraine, where the economy has largely defied sanctions, there are signs that Western support for Ukraine is waning and, ahead of the election, he The term will definitely be extended to 2030.
– Putin is confident –
It marks a sharp reversal in Moscow’s fortunes over the past 12 months.
This time last year, Russian forces were repelled by Ukrainian counterattacks in northeastern and southern Ukraine.
But after Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the summer of 2023 failed to bring similar results, today Kiev has moved into a defensive position.
Western countries’ initial strong support for Ukraine also appears to be wavering, with a $60 billion U.S. aid package stalled in Congress.
Putin’s forces defeated Ukrainian forces with battlefield firepower, captured the eastern stronghold of Avdiivka and tried to build on that.
Economically, Russia is doing better than many expected.
Massive investments in military production, as well as high salaries and benefits for soldiers, have largely protected the economy from the worst consequences of Western sanctions.
Putin also touched on a number of domestic issues in his speech, outlining his position for Russians ahead of the March 15-17 presidential election, which does not feature any real opposition candidates.
There was no doubt about the outcome of the vote, but Putin has made numerous media appearances since the start of the year, including most recently flying a Russian bomber.
His speech, delivered at the Gostinydvor Palace near Moscow’s Red Square, was broadcast not only on television but also on large digital screens and was shown for free in cinemas across the country.
It came just before a planned funeral in Moscow for Putin’s top rival Alexei Navalny, who died in prison on February 16 of unknown causes.
Putin famously never mentioned the opposition leader by name and has so far remained silent on Navalny’s death, which has sparked outrage at home and abroad.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
