Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday accused NATO countries of being complicit in the crimes of the “Kyiv regime”, even in an “indirect” way, claiming that by “sending tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine” they are also participate in battles. In an interview with the channel Rossiya-1, recorded on Thursday but only broadcast yesterday, Putin claimed that the West has “only one goal: to dissolve the former Soviet Union and its fundamental part, the Russian Federation”.
The Russian president, who launched the “special military operation” in Ukraine a year ago, again sees the war as the answer to something that endangered Russia’s future. According to Putin, the West is interested in fragmenting the country. “Only then maybe they will accept us into the so-called family of civilized peoples, but only separately, every part separately,” he said.. “In the current circumstances, when all major NATO countries have announced our strategic defeat as their main goal, how can we not consider its nuclear potential?” he wondered.
In his speech in Warsaw last week, US President Joe Biden said the US wants Ukraine to win the war, but not to try to control or destroy Russia with European allies. “The West had no intention of attacking Russia,” he said, saying that the Russians are not the enemy. It was Putin, Biden said, who “chose this war” and he is the one who can end it “with a word”.
Over the past week, attention has shifted to China’s role after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing is considering supplying arms to Russia. The Chinese have denied this and this week published a 12-point plan to help solve the Ukrainian crisis, calling for dialogue between Moscow and Kiev.
Despite Beijing’s denial, Washington insists China is even considering sending offensive weapons. “We are confident that China’s leadership is considering supplying lethal material to Russia,” said CIA Director William Burns., in an interview with CBS. But he said he did not know if a final decision has been made. In addition to ammunition, the Chinese will be able to send drones. British Defense Intelligence believes, on the basis that they are not being used, that the Russians have exhausted their supply and are waiting for a new supply.
However, the US has already made it clear that the consequences will be serious if China sends weapons to Russia. “Beijing will have to make its own decisions on how to proceed, whether it will provide military aid, but if it goes down that path there will be a real cost to China.”White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing a visit to Moscow for next week, according to Republican congressman Michael McCaul, leader of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Putin, who received one of China’s top diplomats at the Kremlin last week, hinted at a possible trip, but without specifying a date, as it has not been officially confirmed by either side. Between Tuesday and Thursday, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Putin’s ally, will visit Beijing.
Crimea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday defended that the liberation of Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, “will restore peace”. On the Day of Resistance against the Russian occupation of Crimea, Zelensky recalled this in Telegram “Russian aggression” on the peninsula began nine years ago. “This is our country. Our people. Our history. We will bring the Ukrainian flag back to every corner of Ukraine,” he said in the message, adding “Crimea will be free.”
On the ground, Ukrainian forces indicated that Russian forces had attempted several offensives at Yahidne, Donetsk region, but failed. However, the Wagner Group mercenaries claim that they have already captured the place in their attempts to capture Bakhmut. It is on this front line, in the east of the country, that the fighting is concentrated.
Source: DN
