Change of tone or language error? Russian President Vladimir Putin used the word “war” to describe the conflict in Ukraine in front of journalists on Thursday, December 22. A novelty since the beginning of the Russian invasion last February. Until then, the term “special military operation”, or even “denazification operation”, prevailed within the Kremlin.
Presenting the invasion of Ukraine as an armed conflict has been considered a crime in Russia since last March, which can be punished with 15 years in prison.
“Our goal is not to continue to permanently maintain a military conflict, but rather to stop this war,” Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. “We did it and we will continue to do it.”
A misuse of language?
With CNN, a US official called not to overinterpret the use of this term. This anonymous source told the American channel that it was probably a language error. However, the Kremlin’s reaction to this event will be carefully scrutinized in the coming days.
Clumsiness or not, Vladimir Putin’s opponents did not stop raising the term, calling on the Russian justice to initiate proceedings against the Russian leader, based on the law that he himself signed.
On March 4, Vladimir Putin ratified a legislative text that penalizes the authors of “false information” about the army with a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Therefore, the law establishes that presenting the “special operation” in Ukraine as a “war” or an “invasion” constitutes a crime.
Russian justice seized by an opponent
On Twitter, Nikita Yuferev, a St. Petersburg city councilor who had to flee the country because of his anti-war stances, said he had seized Russian judicial authorities to prosecute Putin.
“Vladimir Putin described the war as a war. But no decree was signed to stop the special operation and no war was declared. Several thousand people have already been sentenced for using that term about the war,” he tweeted.
During this same speech, Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to comment on the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States, and more specifically the US promise to deliver the Patriot air defense system.
“As for the Patriot, it’s quite an old system. It doesn’t work like our S-300 (system). But our opponents assume it’s a defensive weapon. Okay, we’ll keep that in mind. And there’s always an antidote,” Vladimir said. Putin.
Source: BFM TV
