Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a direct warning of nuclear retaliation against the West, alleging that NATO and the US are planning to attack Russia, during his yearly speech to the country.
The 71-year-old Russian president stated that NATO and America are active in other parts of the world and continue to deceive and lie.
Putin's Nuclear Warning
Security footage surfaced on the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, complete with a time stamp indicating its occurrence on Thursday, February 29. This development coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's address to Russia's Federal Assembly, where he issued warnings of retaliatory strikes against Western nations and raised concerns about the looming threat of a nuclear war.
Seeking clarity on this matter, Newsweek has initiated contact with the Russian defense ministry via email, awaiting their response.
Putin's statements followed French President Emmanuel Macron's Monday suggestion that NATO members, including the US, could potentially deploy ground troops to Ukraine. However, the US and other NATO allies promptly ruled out such a course of action in response to Macron's proposal.
The Russian leader, amidst escalating tensions, emphasized the formidable capabilities of Russia's weaponry. Putin underscored the risk of a conflict involving nuclear weapons, posing a serious threat to global civilization. He reminded Western nations of the consequences faced by those who previously dispatched forces to Russian territory.
Throughout Putin's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military has prominently utilized the Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and missile system, estimated to be valued around $15 million. This mobile, short-range system is designed to counter aircraft, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions while supporting other air defense units against larger-scale attacks, according to Newsweek.
Russian Commander Faces Penalties
Back in 2023, a Russian commander encountered legal penalties for crashing a Pantsir into a railway bridge in St. Petersburg. The commander was fined 50,000 rubles ($541) by the St. Petersburg Garrison Military Court for not securing the equipment properly. The court also ordered around 14 million rubles ($151,500) in damages.
Meanwhile, the US Senate was embroiled in an important discussion regarding an arms agreement with Turkey. Senators Jim Risch and Rand Paul shared contrasting opinions, with Risch presenting the crucial role of NATO and Paul trying to prevent the sale, describing it as possible extortion. Despite Paul's best efforts, the Senate voted 13 to 79 to reject his proposal.
Risch and Democratic committee chairman Sen. Ben Cardin acknowledged various concerns about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government but argued that adding Sweden to NATO was crucial for strategic interests. Despite objections from Turkey, Sweden and Finland sought NATO membership after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan's objections were multifaceted, including concerns about Turkish critics finding refuge in Sweden and aspirations to acquire advanced fighter jets.
The detailed diplomatic situation continued to evolve with the approval of an enormous arms deal by the US State Department. The deal includes a $23 billion sale of F-16s to Turkey and a $8.6 billion sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece. These decisions were made after Turkey filed its "instrument of ratification" for Sweden's NATO accession, once objections from key members of Congress were resolved, The Washington Post reported.
