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News Brief – Feb 29, 2024

In an annual address to Russian officials and public figures, President Putin warned that the West wanted to destroy Russia. Using Ukraine as a proxy, it planned to fragment the Russian Federation and drain its natural resources, with the objective of ultimately turning it into a failed state.

However, the Russian leader was adamant that he would not allow this to happen. The West hasn’t taken into account Russia’s inner strength as a people and a nation. It would fight back, Putin said, using nuclear weapons if necessary.

Indeed, if needs be Russia would take the fight into the West itself.

They are preparing to strike our territory and using the best possible forces most effective forces to do so.

But we remember the fate of those who tried to invade our territory and of course their fate will be much more tragic than anything that we could face.

They have to understand that we also have weapons. Weapons that can defeat them on their own territory and of course all this is very dangerous because it could actually trigger the use of nuclear weapons. Do they not understand that?

These people are people who have not been through arduous experiences. They’ve forgotten about it, but we did through the Caucasian war, for example, and now in the conflict in Ukraine. (Quote source)

In a similar vein Putin continued:

The so-called West, with its colonial practices and penchant for inciting ethnic conflicts around the world, not only seeks to impede our progress but also envisions a Russia that is a dependent, declining, and dying space where they can do as they please. In fact, they want to replicate in Russia what they have done in numerous other countries, including Ukraine: sowing discord in our home and weakening us from within. But they were wrong, which has become abundantly clear now that they ran up against the firm resolve and determination of our multi-ethnic people.
…
Together, as citizens of Russia, we will stand united in defence of our freedom and our right to a peaceful and dignified existence. We will chart our own course, to safeguard the continuity of generations, and thus the continuity of historical development, and address the challenges facing the country based on our outlook on the world, our traditions and beliefs, which we will pass down to our children.  (
Quote from Moon of Alabama)

At the time of writing there had been little response to Putin’s speech from Western politicians. Nonetheless, it marks a significant development as President Putin is now talking openly and defiantly about the possibility of military confrontation with the west. Ed