Russian President Vladimir Putin is threatening to “negotiate” with the United States and its Western allies for aiding Ukraine as it remains at war with Russia.
Ukraine claims that Russia has lost more than 360,000 soldiers since Putin ordered his full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, including over 253,000 in 2023 alone. Newsweek has not independently verified the numbers.
During a New Year's visit to injured Russian troops in Moscow, Putin suggested that the United States and its allies have blood on their hands because of Russian casualties during the so-called “special military operation.”
In response to the question about “Western countries helping our enemy,” Putin argued that the West was working against “the existence of Russia” and should be considered Moscow’s true “enemy.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured during a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday. The Russian leader said on Monday that the United States and its Western allies were Russia's true “enemies” during the war with Ukraine. Contributor
“It’s not about them helping our enemy,” Putin said. “You are our enemy. They solve their own problems with their hands. It's all about this. Unfortunately, this has been the case for centuries and is still the case today.”
“Ukraine itself is not our enemy,” he added. “Those who want to destroy Russian statehood and, as they say, achieve a strategic defeat of Russia on the battlefield are mainly in the West… They want to disintegrate.” [Russia].”
The Russian president went on to say that the West had been “supporting the Kiev regime for quite some time” in order to “create” the war.
Putin argued that the US was working to “exponentially” increase the flow of artillery shells to Ukraine, while Russia was still ahead of the West in “building up” military equipment.
“Although their goal has always been to negotiate with Russia, apparently we will deal with them more quickly,” Putin said. “Those who are trying to destroy Russia using Ukraine… That’s the problem.”
“But they will fail: it is simply out of the question, absolutely impossible,” he added.
Newsweek emailed the U.S. State Department and the White House on Tuesday seeking comment.
Putin and his allies have repeatedly threatened the West with retaliation for aid to Ukraine over the course of the 22-month war, including possible nuclear strikes.
In February 2023, Putin warned that “those who want to defeat Russia on the battlefield do not understand that a modern war with Russia will be very different,” adding that Russia has “response options” that “will not only be limited become”. to armored vehicles.
Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and prime minister who now serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, last month accused President Joe Biden of attempting “primitive blackmail” to secure more aid for Ukraine and warned that the War between Russia and Ukraine “could lead to “World War III” as a result.
“[The Biden administration] and her frightened protégé will surely get the money,” Medvedev said. “If not now, then next year to continue their war business at all costs.” And for this dough new streams of blood will flow, for which the Biden family and theirs [Banderite] Scum is responsible for this.
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Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.