Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened the West with his country’s nuclear arsenal “that can hit targets on their territory” if they continue supporting Ukraine.
During his annual address to parliament and other high-ranking officials on Thursday, Putin, 71, repeatedly accused the West of being focused on weakening the Eastern European country while issuing the ominous warning.
“(Western nations) must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory,” Putin said. “All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they get that?!”
Putin, who is all but set to be re-elected to another six-year term during the upcoming March 15-17 presidential election, boasted about Russia’s vast arsenal of modern nuclear weapons, the largest in the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West of Russia’s nuclear capabilities during his address to the nation on Thursday. APThe startling warning came after Putin referenced an idea floated by French President Emmanuel Macron of European NATO members sending ground troops to Ukraine, which was rejected by the US, Britain and Germany, among others.
“Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness,” Putin said, noting that new-generation hypersonic nuclear weapons he first spoke about in 2018 had either been deployed or were at a stage where development and testing were being completed.
The Russian leader’s address came a day after the president of the European Commission suggested Russian assets be frozen to help fund Ukraine.
Visibly angry, Putin suggested Western politicians recall the fate of those like Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler and France’s Napoleon Bonaparte who had invaded Russia in the past.
“We remember the fate of those who sent their troop contingents to the territory of our country. But now the consequences will be far more tragic,” said Putin. “They think it (war) is a cartoon.”
Despite Macron’s suggestion that mobilizing European troops to the frontlines was not off the table, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stolenberg reiterated that “there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.”
Stoltenberg, however, said the West was still committed to providing aid to Kyiv, stating that Ukraine has “the right to self-defense, and we have the right to support them in upholding that right.”
As he brought up the idea of nuclear retaliation, Putin suggested he was open to resuming arms-control negotiations with the US so long as those talks included Ukraine.
“Russia is ready for a dialogue with the United States on matters of strategic stability,” Putin said, adding that the talks should encompass all of the Kremlin’s national security concerns, including the territories it claims in Ukraine.
With Post wires
