2023-07-14 05:59:06
MOSCOW (Archyde.com) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday Western-made tanks would be a “priority target” for the Russian military, adding that the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine would not change the situation in the war but would only escalate the conflict.
During the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, Ukraine was promised that it would eventually be allowed to join NATO in the future. In subsequent comments on state television, Vladimir Putin reiterated his stance, saying the move threatened Russia’s security and further heightened global tensions.
“The supply of new weapons (to Ukraine) by (Western countries) will only intensify the situation … and further exacerbate the conflict,” Putin said.
Asked about France’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range patrol missiles with a range of 250 kilometers, Putin said: “Yes, that would cause damage, but it would not have any serious consequences in a war zone.”
Putin added that foreign-made tanks would be “our priority”.
Since the Russian army invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and launched the so-called “special military operation” to “denazify” Ukraine, Western countries have provided Ukraine with weapons worth billions of dollars.
At a NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius this week, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine should be able to join NATO at some point in the future, but did not immediately invite Ukraine to join.
In his first public response to the moves, Putin reiterated Russia’s strong opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership, saying it threatened Russia’s own strategic interests.
“It’s not going to increase the security of Ukraine itself, and it’s going to make the world more vulnerable overall,” he said.
Putin added that all countries have the right to improve their own security, but not at the expense of others. Central News Agency (Translation)
Putin accuses Uzbekistan of exacerbating the conflict, saying priority should be given to dealing with foreign tanks
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