Photo: Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned brisk retribution if nations intervene in Ukraine, with European countries alleging Russia of “blackmail” for its trim to gas supplies.
Moscow has called upon the West to cease deploying arms to Ukraine, stating the massive Western shipping of weapons was fanning the existing flame.
Putin, addressing St. Petersburg lawmakers Wednesday, stated the United States planned to destroy Russia and alleged it of thrusting Ukraine into a crisis with Russia.
“If someone intends to intervene in the ongoing events from the outside and create strategic threats for Russia that are unacceptable to us, they should know that our retaliatory strikes will be lightning-fast,” stated Putin, as per a video of his speech released by Russian media.
“We have all the tools for this, things no one else can boast of having now. And we will not boast; we will use them if necessary. And I want everyone to know that.”
Russia’s attack on Ukraine started on February 24 and has brought the regions and cities into ruins, as well as coerced over 5 million individuals to escape overseas. Western countries retaliated with sanctions and sent weapons to Ukraine for the battle that has led to concerns of a broader crisis in the West.
Moscow describes the assault as a “special operation” to protect and de-Nazi Ukraine. However, Kyiv and Washington stated that this is an under-the-table scheme for Putin’s unprovoked war of aggression.
Although Russia has diverted its military attack in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, its economic war with the US risks gas supplies to Europe and is damaging the Russian economy as it scrambles with the most severe decline since 1991, when the Soviet Union faced its downfall.
Ukraine stated that Europe should cease relying on the Russian market following its halt on gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland for not paying in roubles.
“The sooner everyone in Europe recognizes that they cannot depend on Russia for trade, the sooner it will be possible to guarantee stability in European markets,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky late on Wednesday.
