Putin issues warning to West, declaring Russia ready for nuclear conflict
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13.03.2024, 09:49 | Update 10:13
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On Wednesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin issued a warning to the West, asserting that Russia was technically prepared for nuclear conflict and emphasized that any deployment of U.S. troops to Ukraine would be viewed as a significant escalation of the situation.
Speaking just ahead of an upcoming election slated for March 15-17, where his victory and subsequent six-year term are all but assured, Putin clarified that the prospect of nuclear war was not an imminent threat and stressed that he saw no necessity for employing nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Addressing questions about Russia’s readiness for nuclear confrontation, the 71-year-old leader affirmed: “From a military-technical standpoint, we are undoubtedly prepared.”
He cautioned that the placement of American troops on Russian or Ukrainian soil would be perceived as an intervention by Russia.
“(In the U.S.) there are enough specialists in the field of Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic restraint. Therefore, I don’t think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this,” Putin stated.
This nuclear warning coincided with an offer for discussions on Ukraine as part of a broader reevaluation of European security following the Cold War. Despite these overtures, the U.S. maintains skepticism regarding Putin’s readiness for substantive negotiations over Ukraine.
In an lengthy interview with the Russian state media, Putin also referred to the French President Emanuel Macron's proposal to deploy Western military personnel in Ukraine. He suggested that if Polish troops enter the Ukrainian territory, they would stay there for good.
"If, let us say, the Polish troops will enter the territory of Ukraine, to shield the Ukrainian-Belarus border, as it is claimed. Or if (the Polish forces ) will be deployed in any other locations in order to release the Ukrainian units for fighting on the frontline (against Russian army), then, I think, the Polish forces will never leave," he said, providing no evidence for his words.
