Putin increasingly talking about nuclear weapons on anniversary of war in Ukraine
2023.02.23 03:34
Putin increasingly talking about nuclear weapons on anniversary of war in Ukraine
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – In an address on Thursday, the Defender of the Fatherland public holiday, and one day before the first anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will continue to focus more on increasing its nuclear forces.
Following his suspension of a nuclear arms control treaty with the United States, Putin made these remarks.
Putin said, “As before, we will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad,” referring to land-, sea-, and air-based nuclear missiles.
Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can carry multiple nuclear warheads, would be used for the first time this year, according to Putin.
In a statement released by the Kremlin early on Thursday, Putin stated, “We will continue mass production of air-based hypersonicKinzhal systems and will start mass supplies of sea-based Zirconhypersonic missiles.”
Russia has sent a frigate armed with the hypersonic missiles to South Africa for Friday’s start of military drills with China.
Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden had argued on the eve of the February 24 anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the global tensions between the two superpowers.
On Tuesday, Putin put a halt to the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) that he had signed with the United States. He said that the United States had armed Ukraine, making the war into a global conflict.
Biden claimed that the United States and its NATO allies were defending democracy and freedom in Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday.
“I don’t read into that that he’s thinking of using nuclear weapons or anything like that,” Biden said in Warsaw on Wednesday, despite his warning that the suspension of START was a “big mistake.”
According to a senior defense official from Russia, Moscow will continue to inform the United States of any changes to its deployments and adhere to the limits on nuclear missiles that have been agreed upon.
Biden said that the United States “will defend literally every inch of NATO,” the military alliance that includes some countries in Eastern Europe that are bordered by Russia, after meeting with leaders of the eastern flank of NATO in Warsaw.
According to the Kremlin, NATO, which has the potential to soon include Sweden and Finland, poses an existential threat to Russia.
The war in Ukraine, the largest land conflict in Europe since World War II, has resulted in the displacement of millions of people, destroyed Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages, and disrupted the global economy.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday condemned Russia’s intrusion as an infringement of the establishing U.N. Contract and global regulation and got down on its messages about the conceivable utilization of atomic weapons.
Putin said in two speeches in September that he would defend Russia with nuclear weapons if necessary.
“Indirect threats to use nuclear weapons have been heard. Nuclear weapons’ so-called tactical use is completely unacceptable. Guterres stated, “It is high time to step back from the brink.”
Putin said that relations had reached “new frontiers” and that he had received Wang Yi, the top Chinese diplomat, to the Kremlin on Wednesday. He also said that Xi Jinping, the leader of China, would be visiting Russia.
While Ukraine asserts that there can be no talk of peace while Russian troops occupy its territory, Xi is anticipated to deliver a “peace speech” on Friday.
Washington is concerned that Beijing might give Moscow’s war in Ukraine material support.
China would “firmly adhere to an objective and impartial position” and “play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis,” according to Wang, as reported by the TASS news agency.
Through an interpreter, Wang stated that the relationship between China and Russia was not directed at any third party; however, in a clear jab at the United States, he stated that the countries would “not succumb to pressure from third parties.”
After suffering three significant defeats on the battlefield last year in its “special military operation” to safeguard Russian security, Russia now controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine.
The invasion has been characterized as an imperial-style land grab by Ukraine and its allies in the West.
Russia has launched an offensive in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, but despite some significant losses, it has only made small gains.
The military said in the early hours of Thursday that Ukrainian forces had stopped 90 Russian attacks in the northeast and east over the past 24 hours.
In the Kharkiv region, near Kupiansk, and in the Donetsk region, near Lyman, Bakhmut, Adviika, and Shakhtarsk, where Russia is focusing its offensive efforts, Russian troops attacked.
In YouTube comments, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov stated, “In Avdiivka, Russian forces are sticking to their tactic of pushing in one place, failing to advance, and then bringing in reserves to try in another place.”
Russia’s ability to mobilize a large number of troops makes this only conceivable. They don’t care about their losses. The goal is to weaken our position without considering the cost.”
