2024-03-19 04:55:00
Vladimir Putin, who just won the Russian presidential election in a landslide, told the West that peace in Ukraine can only be achieved on his terms. He also warned that if NATO dared to send troops, it would mean the outbreak of nuclear war.
As widely expected, Putin won a landslide victory in Sunday’s carefully orchestrated election. Competitors who could threaten him are in jail, banned from the election, or dead. According to election officials, Putin’s vote share reached an unprecedented 87%. After the election, Putin’s rhetoric became even sharper, suggesting that the Russian people could only accept a complete victory on the battlefield in Ukraine. If this was not possible, Moscow would have to make conditions and reach a one-sided peace agreement.
“We are willing to talk… but not because the enemy is out of ammunition and food,” Putin told a news conference on Monday morning. “We can have peace talks, but only if the other party is really sincere and hopes that the relationship between the two countries will be peaceful and friendly for a long time, rather than trying to take a breather for one and a half to two years to regroup.”
Political analysts said that since the West is hesitant to continue aiding Ukraine, and the issue of aid to Ukraine has been involved in partisan disputes in the United States, Putin used the ceasefire as bait, planning to give himself the upper hand in negotiations.
According to estimates by Western intelligence agencies, Ukraine’s military strength and weapons are at a disadvantage. The Ukrainian army is extremely short of weapons and ammunition, to the extent that for every 10 artillery shells fired by the Russian army, Ukraine can only fire about two. Putin’s current bottom line on the peace agreement is that the Crimean Peninsula captured 10 years ago and the four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine occupied in 2022 will continue to be controlled by Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to start talks before Russia withdraws its troops, warning that any ceasefire would only allow Russia to rearm its arms and then intensify its attacks on Ukraine.
Western countries have condemned Moscow for extending the presidential election to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The EU said on Monday it “does not and will never recognize these so-called elections held on Ukrainian territory or their results. These are invalid and will not produce any legal effect”.
The United States also said on Sunday that the entire election process was “clearly unfree and unfair.”
In a statement to The Wall Street Journal on Monday, the Kremlin rejected suggestions that Putin used intimidation and repression to sway the election, calling such accusations “baseless” and saying the results reflected “The president’s unique popularity”.
In a post-election speech on Monday, Putin warned the West against continuing to interfere in the war by supporting Ukraine, saying without providing any evidence that Russia was aware that military personnel from U.S.-led NATO members were present in Ukraine. And claimed that these military personnel were dying in large numbers. He warned that “the possibility of a full-scale conflict between Russia and NATO in the future cannot be ruled out.” If such a conflict breaks out, “the world will be only one step away from World War III.” No one wants to see such a conflict. result.
Putin firmly opposes the United States and Europe’s intervention in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has used the threat of a nuclear conflict with the West to emphasize this assertion. This is the third time Putin has issued such a warning in less than a month. Some analysts pointed out that Putin is trying to provoke a reaction from Western countries so that the Russian people believe that they need a strong leader to protect them.
So far, a military breakthrough is out of reach for both Russia and Ukraine, and there is almost no power to make Putin stop. Western sanctions have not crippled the Russian economy. China has provided Russia with an important economic lifeline, and Iran has provided Moscow with drones for use in Ukraine. Russia also draws supplies from allies North Korea and Belarus while ramping up domestic arms production.
Analysts also pointed out that the gradually expanding results also convinced Putin that continuing the fight would lead to more favorable results for Russia. These results included the capture of the eastern Ukrainian town of Agra in February this year after several months of fierce fighting and heavy casualties. Vladimir Ivka.
On the eve, Putin boasted of the military advantage currently enjoyed by Russian soldiers, saying that the Russian army “is advancing every day, step by step, cautiously, but every day” and that in some areas it is “literally cutting the enemy into pieces.” fragments”.
The results were modest, but enough for Putin to show off his power again later Monday, this time at a concert and rally in Moscow’s Red Square to mark the annexation of Crimea.
“Crimea is not only a strategically important territory, but also our history, our traditions and the pride of Russia. Above all, Crimea is its people,” Putin told thousands said the rally crowd. At the scene, people waved national flags, listened to artists singing patriotic songs, danced and recited poems. “The residents of Sevastopol, the Crimeans, they are our pride. They have never separated themselves from Russia and that is why Crimea has returned to our family,” he said.
Putin was accompanied on the stage by a small crowd that included young people and three candidates challenging him in the election. Putin said he would continue to develop the Crimean Peninsula. He said he received news on Monday that the railway starting from the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, close to the Ukrainian border, and passing through the Russian-occupied Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions has been renovated and will soon be connected to the largest railway in Crimea. The city is connected to Sevastopol, the base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
He said this would be an alternative route to the Crimean bridge. Since the invasion began, the Crimean bridge has been the target of sabotage attacks that Russia blames on Ukraine.
“We will move forward together. That is why we will become stronger, not with words, but with actions,” Putin said. At this time, the audience shouted: “Russia, Russia!”.
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