Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the plans of the Ukrainian authorities to create nuclear weapons, said that such statements are not empty bravado. This opinion was expressed by the head of state on Monday, February 21, in an address to the Russians.
“Ukraine’s threat to create its own nuclear weapons is not empty bravado. Ukraine really still has Soviet nuclear technologies and means of delivering such weapons, including aviation, as well as Tochka-U operational-tactical missiles, also of Soviet design, whose range exceeds 100 km, but they will do more, it’s only a matter of time. There are backlogs from the Soviet era,” the Russian leader said.
Putin added that it would be much easier for Ukraine than for some other states to acquire tactical nuclear weapons. He noted that technological support from abroad will especially contribute to this.
The Russian president emphasized the danger of Ukraine having weapons of mass destruction, as this would lead to a fundamental change in the situation in Europe and the world.
“With the appearance of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine, the situation in the world, in Europe, especially for us, for Russia, will change in the most radical way, we cannot but respond to this real danger. Moreover, I repeat that Western patrons can contribute to the emergence of such weapons in Ukraine in order to create another threat to our country, ”Putin said.
Earlier that day, the head of state held an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Security Council, during which its members unanimously called for recognition of the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR).
With a corresponding request, the heads of the DPR and LPR, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, turned to the Russian leader on February 21. They also urged to consider the possibility of concluding an agreement on friendship and cooperation between the parties.
The situation on the line of contact in Donbass escalated on February 17. The DPR and LPR reported heavy shelling by Ukrainian security forces, including with heavy weapons. At the same time, Kiev announced the shelling of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On February 21, the representative office of the LPR at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire (JCCC) reported 16 violations of the ceasefire in the republic by Ukrainian security forces. On the same day, it became known that the armed forces of Ukraine fired at the village of Staromikhaylovka with shells prohibited under the Minsk agreements.
Since 2014, the Ukrainian authorities have been conducting a military operation against the inhabitants of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup d’état and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev blames Moscow for the current situation. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the intra-Ukrainian conflict. The issues of its settlement are being discussed in the Minsk and Normandy formats.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
