Addressing an economic forum, Vladimir Putin delivered his most aggressive remarks regarding Ukraine in a long time.
During a Q&A session at Russia’s major investment event in St Petersburg, the Russian president was questioned about his ultimate objective in the conflict.
He responded: “I have repeatedly stated that I consider the Russian and Ukrainian people to be one nation. From this perspective, all of Ukraine is ours.”
The answer was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience of admiring politicians and business individuals.
And there was more to come.
“There’s an old maxim,” he declared. “Where a Russian soldier treads, that place becomes ours’.”
In essence, he conveyed that he desires control over the entire region.
Putin’s comments mark a hawkish shift. Photo: AP
The comments came as a shock because they sharply contrast with the Kremlin’s recent tone of diplomacy.
Ever since Donald Trump began to push for peace talks, Moscow’s tone had softened, adopting a more conciliatory approach, seemingly to indicate interest in a settlement to Washington.
However, there was no trace of such conciliation in Putin’s speech this time. On the contrary.
For the first time in months, Putin even threatened a nuclear strike against Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Photo: Reuters
When asked how Moscow would react if Kyiv deployed a dirty bomb against Russian forces, he promised “catastrophic consequences” for his adversary.
“This would be a colossal error by those we refer to as neo-Nazis in today’s Ukraine,” he stated. “It might be their final blunder.
“We always respond in kind. Therefore, our response will be very harsh.”
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The Kremlin’s nuclear threats were a weekly feature in the final days of Biden’s presidency, but the rhetoric eased when Trump took office.
However, Putin appears to have reverted to this kind of rhetoric suddenly.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Odesa, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
This felt like a very deliberate message from Vladimir Putin, indicating that despite peace negotiations, Russia has no intention of backing down, neither on the battlefield nor at the negotiating table.
It shows that Moscow is not particularly concerned about upsetting Donald Trump.
The American leader, although distancing himself from mediating the conflict, still seems to be pursuing a friendlier relationship with Moscow.
Therefore, I believe these comments also reflect Putin’s confidence that events are unfolding in his favor.
