Featured Image Credit: Gavriil GRIGOROV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Russia, Ukraine, World News
Phoebe Tonks
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Russia, Ukraine, World News
Vladimir Putin appears to have quashed any hopes for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine as he made a chilling threat to the West.
On Wednesday (December 17), the Russian leader slammed Ukraine’s European allies in a speech that branded them ‘piglets’ before accusing them of ‘plotting Russia’s downfall’.
Despite the best efforts of the US and Europe, which included a peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump, Putin has instead vowed to continue the war unless his demands are met in full – including ownership of a large swathe of land in the Donbas region of Ukraine.
Speaking in Moscow, Putin said: “Everyone believed that Russia would be destroyed and collapsed in a short period of time.
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“And the European piglets immediately joined in this work of the former American [Biden] administration, hoping to profit from the collapse of our country.”
He added: “To regain something that had been lost in previous historical periods and try to take revenge.
“As is now obvious to everyone, all these attempts and all these destructive plans against Russia have completely failed.”
As well as deriding his adversaries, Putin then chillingly revealed his plans to deploy the brand new 'Oreshnik' nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile system in Belarus within the next two weeks – meaning yet another European nation could experience a catastrophic attack within days of Orthodox Christmas.
Russia claims that from Belarus, the missile could reach London within as little as 'eight minutes', triggering further fears of igniting WW3, as NATO would be forced to intervene.
Putin also doubled down on his refusal to compromise on any peace plans, insisting that he would not back down from his demand for ownership of the Donbas, a contested region in Eastern Ukraine.
“The objectives of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved,” he told Russian commanders in the speech.
“We would prefer to do this and eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy.
“However, if the opposing side and their foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive talks, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.
“The task of creating and expanding a buffer security zone will also be consistently addressed.”
Despite leaving little room to negotiate, Putin insisted that Russia was prepared to do so – but hinted that many years of war lay ahead as he didn’t feel peace could be achieved with Europe’s current leadership, who he appeared to blame for stalling peace talks.
Many European leaders have banded with Ukraine to revise the extensive peace proposal put forward by Trump, as they felt Ukraine was forced to sacrifice too much while Russia barely had to do anything.
Under Trump’s original peace proposal, Ukraine would’ve been forced to reduce its military numbers and surrender considerable amounts of land to Russia, something it felt was untenable as did many allies.
It is this alliance which Putin appears to have taken issue with, as he continued: “We are ready to negotiate and resolve all the problems that have arisen in recent years peacefully.
“The US administration has demonstrated such readiness, and we are engaged in dialogue with them. I hope the same will happen in Europe.
“It's unlikely that this will be possible with the current political elites, but in any case, it will be inevitable as we continue to strengthen our position.
“If not with the current politicians, then with the change of the current elites in Europe.”
In a further jab at Europe, he then bluntly concluded: “Immediately after the collapse of the USSR, we thought we'd quickly become members of the so-called civilised family of European nations. It turns out today that there's no civilisation there. Only complete degradation.”