05:33Russia: West seeks to dismantle former Soviet Union and Russian Federation - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Western countries were attempting to dismantle both the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, during a broadcast of journalist Pavel Zarubin's 'Moscow. Kremlin. Putin' programme, which aired on the Russia-1 TV channel on Sunday.
"They have one goal - to dismantle the former Soviet Union and its main part - the Russian Federation. Then maybe they will accept us into the so-called family of civilised nations, but only separately, each part separately. For what purpose? To maltreat those parts and put them under their control," Putin stated.
The president added that by choosing such a 'path', the lives of many Russians would be very different.
"If we go down this path, I think that the fate of very many peoples of Russia, and above all, of course, the Russian people, can change drastically, just drastically. I do not even know if such an ethnic group as the Russian people can be preserved in the form they exist today. There will be some Muscovites, Uralians and so on," said Putin.
The leader also said Russia had to return to discussing the nuclear potential of Great Britain and France, while commenting on the suspension of Russia's participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the United States of America.
"We went to the trouble of taking them off the table at the time, having in mind both detente and the fact that NATO declared itself almost a demilitarised organisation, saying that it was most likely a political organisation and not a military bloc. It is a military one, isn't it? We can see what is happening. So we simply have to come back to this discussion in a safe position," he specified.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that Moscow would push back threats from its borders depending on the range of 'weapons that will be issued' to Ukraine.
Western countries have announced numerous deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine, including air defence systems, long-range multiple rocket launchers, artillery and tanks.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry regularly reports that significant amounts of Ukrainian and Western weapons have been destroyed. The Russian authorities claim that the actions of Western countries only prolong the armed conflict and will be unable to prevent Moscow from achieving its goals.
Putin announced the unilateral suspension of Russia's participation in New START during his address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that 'the decision to suspend the New START Treaty may be reversible', but for this "to be achieved, a good-faith effort must be made in Washington with a view to overall de-escalation."
Following Putin’s announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move was 'deeply unfortunate and irresponsible'. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said he regretted the Russian decision.
"Over the last years Russia has violated and walked away from key arms control agreements. With today’s decision on New START, the whole arms control architecture has been dismantled. I strongly encourage Russia to reconsider its decision and to respect existing agreements," Stoltenberg said.
The Treaty (officially 'Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms') between Moscow and Washington was originally signed in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011. In early 2021, the US and Russia agreed to extend it until February 2026.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February last year after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
05:33Mandatory credit: 'Moscow. Kremlin. Putin' TV-Show, Rossiya 1 TV Channel. No access EU media/EU territory
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Western countries were attempting to dismantle both the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, during a broadcast of journalist Pavel Zarubin's 'Moscow. Kremlin. Putin' programme, which aired on the Russia-1 TV channel on Sunday.
"They have one goal - to dismantle the former Soviet Union and its main part - the Russian Federation. Then maybe they will accept us into the so-called family of civilised nations, but only separately, each part separately. For what purpose? To maltreat those parts and put them under their control," Putin stated.
The president added that by choosing such a 'path', the lives of many Russians would be very different.
"If we go down this path, I think that the fate of very many peoples of Russia, and above all, of course, the Russian people, can change drastically, just drastically. I do not even know if such an ethnic group as the Russian people can be preserved in the form they exist today. There will be some Muscovites, Uralians and so on," said Putin.
The leader also said Russia had to return to discussing the nuclear potential of Great Britain and France, while commenting on the suspension of Russia's participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the United States of America.
"We went to the trouble of taking them off the table at the time, having in mind both detente and the fact that NATO declared itself almost a demilitarised organisation, saying that it was most likely a political organisation and not a military bloc. It is a military one, isn't it? We can see what is happening. So we simply have to come back to this discussion in a safe position," he specified.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that Moscow would push back threats from its borders depending on the range of 'weapons that will be issued' to Ukraine.
Western countries have announced numerous deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine, including air defence systems, long-range multiple rocket launchers, artillery and tanks.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry regularly reports that significant amounts of Ukrainian and Western weapons have been destroyed. The Russian authorities claim that the actions of Western countries only prolong the armed conflict and will be unable to prevent Moscow from achieving its goals.
Putin announced the unilateral suspension of Russia's participation in New START during his address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that 'the decision to suspend the New START Treaty may be reversible', but for this "to be achieved, a good-faith effort must be made in Washington with a view to overall de-escalation."
Following Putin’s announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move was 'deeply unfortunate and irresponsible'. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said he regretted the Russian decision.
"Over the last years Russia has violated and walked away from key arms control agreements. With today’s decision on New START, the whole arms control architecture has been dismantled. I strongly encourage Russia to reconsider its decision and to respect existing agreements," Stoltenberg said.
The Treaty (officially 'Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms') between Moscow and Washington was originally signed in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011. In early 2021, the US and Russia agreed to extend it until February 2026.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February last year after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.