In a recent development, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning, suggesting that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could potentially escalate into a global war if the West continues to exacerbate the situation.
This statement comes as the latest in a series of existential threats Putin has made in the context of the Ukraine war.
According to the Daily Mail, Putin refrained from declaring that World War Three was already in progress. Instead, he emphasized the increasing dangers and the role of the West in escalating the situation. "You know, there is no need to scare anyone," he said, adding, "there are many dangers - they are increasing. And we see what our enemy is doing today, escalating the situation. If they want to, let them live badly, let them escalate further. We will always respond to any challenge, always."
In a display of defiance, Putin sidestepped his role in intensifying the conflict in Europe, particularly with the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Instead, he took pride in his personal involvement in the 'historic' development of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile. He even challenged the West to a 'high tech missile duel', suggesting a test of the new weapon's capabilities against Ukraine's allies.
In a televised address on the Russia-1 channel, Putin called for compromise from Western leaders, stating, "We are ready to look for these compromises, but without prejudice to our interests." His rhetoric has grown increasingly heated in response to the West's support for Ukraine.
Last week, Putin accused the West of pushing Russia to its 'red lines' and threatened to lift all voluntary restrictions on the deployment of his short and medium-range missiles if the US proceeded with similar deployments. He also claimed that Russian forces in Ukraine had taken control of 189 settlements so far this year, and emphasized that Russia's nuclear weapons were for deterrence.
Nikolai Sokov, a former Soviet and Russian diplomat, interpreted Putin's 'red line' as a clear warning: "Don't make a mistake - all these kind of things may mean nuclear war." He expressed concern about the dismissive attitude towards these threats, warning of a potential 'unpleasant surprise' if the risks were not taken into account.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Putin remains unapologetic about the 'special military operation' in Ukraine. He even suggested that he should have acted sooner. "Knowing what's happening now, back in 2022 I would've thought the decision ought to have been taken earlier," he said during an end-of-year press conference.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg questioned Putin on his achievements as president, noting that the war has brought NATO closer to Russia's borders with the accession of Finland and Sweden. Putin responded by asserting that Russia had 'moved away from the brink of the abyss' and was at risk of losing 'sovereignty' before he assumed power. He also expressed readiness to work with Britain, if they were willing.
Putin also highlighted his involvement in the testing of the Oreshnik missile in Dnipro last month, describing it as a 'historic event in the rocket and space field'. He revealed a split in his defence ministry over the development of the super weapon Oreshnik, but ultimately gave orders to produce and test it under combat conditions.
This news comes as a large Russian ammunition depot in the Rostov region exploded following a Ukrainian drone strike, and as Putin faces increasing domestic pressure to end the war. A recent survey by state-controlled pollsters VTsIOM revealed that a significant percentage of Russians, 42% of women and 31% of men, would wish for the war to end if they could make one request to Father Christmas. These figures surpassed other desires, indicating a growing discontent with the ongoing conflict.
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