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Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any country that interferes in Ukraine will face a swift response.
“If someone from outside tries to interfere in Ukraine, our response will be lightning fast,” Putin said while addressing lawmakers in the State Duma on Wednesday.
He added, “We have all the tools (to respond) that no one can brag regarding. We will not brag regarding them, (but) we will use them if necessary.”
The Russian leader added that all decisions on what this response would include had already been taken, but he did not provide further details.
His latest warning comes following Western countries beefed up their support for Ukraine in the past few days.
On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pledged to do everything possible to ensure Ukraine defeats Russia.
And in the past few days, there have been a growing number of pledges to increase military support for Ukraine, including an announcement by Germany that it would send 50 anti-aircraft tanks, in a sharp shift in Berlin’s policy.
It is also expected that the United Kingdom will later invite the supply of combat aircraft to Ukraine.
Earlier in the week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that the West was “pouring oil on the fire” by supplying arms to Ukraine. He said the conflict might lead to a third world war.
Putin’s warning came as tensions escalated, as Russia’s energy company Gazprom cut gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, saying the reason was that the two countries refused to follow Moscow’s new rule by paying for gas in rubles.
The European Union has told Russia that it will not give in to blackmail over gas supplies.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had other options to make up for the sudden halt in Moscow’s gas shipments to Poland and Bulgaria, and that the bloc planned to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
Von der Leyen also warned EU member states not to breach sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine by bowing to Moscow’s demands for a ruble payment.
The BBC’s Brussels correspondent says more sanctions are likely to be imposed on Russia soon.
