Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged Thursday to achieve Moscow’s goals in Ukraine and sharply warned the West against further involvement in the fighting, saying such action carried the risk of nuclear conflict global.
Mr Putin’s warning came during a state of the nation address ahead of next month’s presidential election, which he is virtually certain to win, underscoring his willingness to up the ante in a standoff with the West to protect Russian gains in Ukraine.
In an apparent reference to French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement earlier this week that the future deployment of Western ground troops to Ukraine must not be “excluded“. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that this would have “tragedy” consequences for countries that decide to act in this way.
Mr. Putin noted that while accusing Russia of wanting to attack NATO allies in Europe, Western allies “selected targets to strike our territory” and “raised the possibility of sending a NATO contingent to Ukraine“.
“We remember the fate of those who sent their contingents to the territory of our country,” the Russian leader said, in an apparent allusion to the failed invasions of Napoleon and Hitler. “Today, the consequences for the invaders potential will be much more tragic.
A two-hour speech
In a two-hour speech to an audience of lawmakers and senior officials, Mr. Putin called Western leaders reckless and irresponsible and said the West must keep in mind that “we also have weapons capable of hitting targets on their territory, and what they are suggesting today and what is frightening the world, all this raises the real threat of a nuclear conflict which would mean the destruction of our civilization”.
The strong statement follows earlier warnings from Mr. Putin, who has frequently recalled Russia’s nuclear power since sending troops to Ukraine in February 2022, in a bid to discourage the West from increasing its military support to Kiev.
He reiterated that the West was determined to destroy Russia, stating that “they need a dependent, declining, dying space in Russia’s place, so they can do what they want.” .
The Russian leader paid tribute to fallen troops in Ukraine with a minute’s silence and said army veterans should form the core of the country’s new elite, inviting them to take part in a new training program for senior officials.
Mr. Putin has repeatedly said he sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022 to protect Russian interests and prevent Ukraine from posing a major threat to Russia’s security by joining NATO. kyiv and its allies denounced this intervention as an unprovoked act of aggression.
The Russian leader has repeatedly indicated that he wants to negotiate an end to the fighting, but he has warned that Russia will maintain its gains.
Mr. Putin, 71, who is running as an independent candidate in the March 15-17 presidential election, is relying on the tight control of the Russian political system that he established during 24 years in power.
Prominent critics who could challenge him have been jailed or living abroad, while most independent media outlets have been banned, meaning Mr Putin’s re-election is all but assured. He faces symbolic opposition from three other candidates nominated by pro-Kremlin parties and represented in parliament.
