Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries that they will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if they threaten Russian sovereignty in the Ukraine war. Putin approved a referendum plan to annex Ukraine’s war-torn territories with Russia. He also signed an order to deploy 300,000 more reserve troops in the face of Russian military obstacles in Ukraine.
This is Russia’s biggest military campaign since the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in World War II.
In terms of nuclear weapons, Russia, the successor of the Soviet Union, has the ability to surpass even the United States, so Putin’s challenge is viewed with concern by the international community. US By openly challenging NATO’s main alliance, experts say that Russia is taking the first step towards the First World War. The only policy followed by Western countries is to provide indirect support to Ukraine in the war against Russia.
In a televised address to the nation, Putin made it clear that if territorial sovereignty is threatened, he will undoubtedly use all possible means to protect Russia’s interests. He accused the West of using nuclear weapons to destroy Russia and this is nuclear blackmail. The United States, Britain and the European Union are encouraging Ukraine to fight against Russia. The West has crossed all lines in its aggressive anti-Russian policy. Those who try to scare us with nuclear weapons should understand that it will backfire on them – said Putin.
Putin is believed to have come forward with a tougher stance, including the threat of nuclear weapons, in a situation where the Russian army has suffered heavy defeats in north-east Ukraine and its leadership has been questioned.
Putin signed an order to send reserve troops to Ukraine as part of an escalation in the war. He pointed out that the Russian army is resisting the total military build-up of Western countries in Ukraine. Speaking after Putin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained that more than 300,000 troops will be sent to Ukraine.
Ukraine rejected the referendum
Putin announced his full support for the upcoming referendum in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian municipalities of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are about the size of Hungary.
Russian officials were deployed in Kherson and Zaporizhia regions for the referendum. Putin made it clear that the future of these states will be determined by the majority of their people.
Even before sending troops to Ukraine, Russia considered Donetsk and Luhansk provinces to be independent republics. Putin’s move is to officially annex 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory to Russia through a referendum.
The point of view of the countries of Ukraine and the West is that they will not accept the referendum announced by Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron responded that the Russian move was a joke.
