Putin's veiled threats over Western arms in the Ukraine war
During a press conference in St. Petersburg, an American journalist asked Putin when the war in Ukraine might end. He set a condition that would mean an immediate defeat for Ukraine. He also threatened Western countries after they supplied weapons to Ukraine.
Many reports by Russian media or government representatives are elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information warfare conducted by the Russian Federation.
Putin's press conference was held on the sidelines of the international economic forum in St. Petersburg.
Putin stated that since Ukraine uses Western weapons to attack Russian territory, the Kremlin might take "asymmetric" actions and supply similar armaments to countries that would attack Western states.
- Using Western weapons to attack Russian territories requires the involvement of the military personnel of the respective countries in operating the equipment, controlling it, and setting targets; therefore, Russia may take such retaliatory steps as supplying similar types of weapons to other parties to attack chosen countries - the dictator argued.
- The Ukrainian military is unable to use long-range Western weapons on their own because all decisions have to be made by countries that supplied them - Putin said. According to Putin, such actions by Western countries "will destroy international relations and undermine international security."
As reported by the media, Putin said that Russia would "consider" attacks on "sensitive facilities" in Western countries in response to attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on its territory.
When will the war end? Putin responded
A journalist from Germany asked Putin if he somehow warned, reprimanded, or maybe threatened the German Chancellor when he decided to supply weapons to Ukraine.
The Russian dictator falsely stated that Russia did not threaten anyone, especially the head of another state; hence, it would be considered bad manners.
Putin also addressed the issue of the beginning of the war with Ukraine.
- Everyone thinks that Russia started the war in Ukraine. I would like to emphasize that nobody in the West, in Europe, wants to remember how this tragedy started - he said in a bizarre tirade, stating that it had begun with an unconstitutional coup in Ukraine, which had been the beginning of the war.
Putin did not answer the question about the number of killed
A French journalist asked Putin about the number of Russian soldiers killed in the war. The President of Russia did not answer that question. He only stated that Russia's losses are several times smaller than Ukraine's.
He instead gave the number of people in captivity, arguing that on the Ukrainian side, there were 1,350 Russian soldiers and officers. He added that there were 6,470 Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity.
When will the war end?
An American journalist asked the President of Russia when the war in Ukraine might end.
As a representative of the United States, Putin answered that he could say what he once had told President Biden. American president once sent him a letter, and Putin, as he claimed, replied in writing that if Biden wanted to stop the hostilities in Ukraine, the Russian dictator demanded he stop supplying weapons. Allegedly, these actions will cease in two or three months.
