Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO this Thursday that the consequences of allied troop deployments in Ukraine would be tragic, while calling the claims that Moscow intends to attack Europe a sheer fabrication.
“They have begun talking about the possibility of sending NATO contingents to Ukraine, but we remember the fate of those who once sent troops onto our soil. Now the consequences for potential interveners will be far more catastrophic,” Putin said during his state-of-the-nation address to Russia’s two legislative chambers.
Eradicating Nazism in Ukraine
“Russia did not start the war in Donbas, but we will do everything to end it, root out Nazism, and fulfill the objectives of the so-called special military operation in Ukraine,” the leader of the Kremlin declared.
The head of the Kremlin, delivering the address less than a month before presidential elections in which he seeks a fifth term, told lawmakers that Russian forces now “firmly maintain the initiative” on the front lines.
“Our units are holding the initiative. They are advancing securely in several sectors and liberating more territory,” he announced.
Putin also highlighted the combat experience gained by Moscow’s troops during two years of fighting and asked the lawmakers to observe a moment of silence for Russian soldiers who fell in the conflict.
He added that backing for the war effort among the population remains strong.
“When the Motherland defends its sovereignty and safety, it protects the lives of its compatriots in Donbas and Novorossiya, and the decisive role in this struggle belongs to the citizens of Russia, to their unity, to their commitment to their homeland, and to their responsibility for their future,” he stated.
Parallel to Putin’s speech, the Russian Defense Ministry released its daily brief noting an improvement in the positions of its forces in southern Ukraine.
Earlier, for nearly two weeks, the military reported advances in eastern Ukraine.