Putin vows to “react” to Britain sending Ukraine depleted uranium tank munitions while joining China’s Xi in condemning AUKUS’ nuclear submarine plans and Moscow warns we “have a… NUCLEAR collision”.
- Putin promised to respond to UK plans to send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine
- He said some of the ammunition in the tanks contained depleted uranium
Vladimir Putin today vowed to “react” to Britain’s plans to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine as Moscow warned there were “fewer and fewer steps” towards a nuclear collision.
The Russian despot said that part of the ammunition for the Challenger 2 main battle tanks that Britain is sending to Ukraine contains armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium.
After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin said the move heralds the West’s move to supply weapons with nuclear components to Kiev, adding that Moscow will be “forced to react” if Britain starts delivering 14 Next generation battles continue tanks.
“The United Kingdom … announced not only the delivery of tanks to Ukraine, but also shells with depleted uranium. If this happens, Russia will be forced to react,” Putin said.
Putin also joined XI in condemning the security pact known as AUKUS, which stipulates that Australia develop a nuclear submarine program with the United States and Britain.
Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu today reiterated Putin’s position and warned the world that they are only “steps” away from a nuclear catastrophe.
Vladimir Putin (pictured in the Kremlin) today vowed to “react” to Britain’s plans to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine as Moscow warned there were “fewer and fewer steps” towards a nuclear collision
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet Ukrainian troops who are being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility in Lulworth, Dorset February 8, 2023
After talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured together), Putin said the move heralds the West is shifting to supplying weapons with nuclear components to Kiev, adding that Moscow will “react” if Britain does continue delivery of 14 next generation main battle tanks
“One more step is taken, and there are fewer and fewer left,” Shoigu said. When asked if that would bring the world any closer to a nuclear collision, he replied: “It was no coincidence that I told you about steps. There are fewer and fewer.”
It comes as Xi said on Tuesday he had signed a deal with Putin to take their ties into a “new era” – a move that will raise concerns in Ukraine as Kiev fears China could ultimately decide to arm his strategic ally. influence on the outcome of the war.
“We signed a declaration on deepening the strategic partnership and bilateral ties entering a new era,” Xi said after talks with Putin at the Kremlin.
Depleted uranium is used in weapons because its density and other physical properties make it easier to penetrate tanks and armor. It is a particular health hazard near impact sites, where dust can enter people’s lungs and vital organs.
“Of course Russia has an answer to that,” Shoigu told reporters when asked about the ammunition.
It comes after a Russian fighter jet intercepted two US nuclear bombers over the Baltic Sea, just days after an American drone was shot down.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said a single Su-35 was scrambled to hit the B-52 strategic bombers flying towards Russia’s border on Monday, but that it returned to base after it collapsed after a tense standoff had removed.
The development came as Moscow said it had flown two of its own nuclear bombers for more than seven hours over the Sea of Japan, in a statement released as Japan’s prime minister began a surprise visit to Ukraine — and as China’s prime minister Xi Jinping made his continued own visit to Moscow.
Russia’s Tupolev Tu-95MS aircraft are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and Moscow regularly flies them over international waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic and Pacific as a show of strength and as an intimidation tactic.
It also followed the March 14 crash of a US military surveillance drone in the Black Sea after being intercepted by Russian jets, in the first known direct military encounter between Russia and the US since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This is the dramatic moment a Russian fighter jet intercepted two US nuclear bombers over the Baltic Sea just days after an American drone was shot down
Dramatic footage allegedly taken by the Su-35 on Tuesday appeared to confirm this. In the video, captured at close range, one of the two American planes could be seen hovering above the clouds (pictured).
Two US B-52 Stratofortress aircraft (left) were intercepted by a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 (right). So they stack up against each other
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