Putin began by explaining why Russia has launched what he calls a “special military operation,” accusing the West and NATO of openly discussing supplying nuclear weapons to Ukraine ahead of a Russian invasion. He accused the West of “playing a dirty game” with the people and with Ukraine. He mentioned Yugoslavia, Iraq and Syria and “centuries of colonialism and dictatorship”.
He said the West was misleading its own people with “totally unscrupulous lies” about what is happening in the Donbass.
Open to dialogue
Putin said he was open to dialogue with the West and to an equal security system, but “in response we received unjust answers” and specific actions to expand NATO and deploy new missile defense systems in Europe. He says that “the entire planet is littered” with US bases.
We had no doubts,” said Putin, who in February 2022 “everything was ready” for a punitive action from Kiev to Donbas. “All of this was completely contrary to the documents accepted by the United Nations Security Council.”
“I repeat: they started the war and we used force to stop it,” Putin said, adding that the West’s goal is unlimited power, and Sevastapol is clearly the next target after Donbas.
Putin accuses the West of “an endless stream of accusations against Russia” at the recent Munich security conference, says that “the West has released the genie out of the bottle” because of the wars and accuses the West of committing multiple coups.
“He will probably say once again that the West has gone to war against Russia. The growing support and arms supplies to Ukraine are grist to her mill in this regard.’ That makes the struggle in Ukraine an existential issue for Russia, Crump thinks.
Donbass, Belarus
In light of this, Putin could also discuss annexed areas in the Donbass region, Belarus and a number of other republics. In doing so, he heralds, as it were, a further enlargement of Russian territory, says Crump. The suspicion that decisions will be made in such areas is reinforced by tomorrow’s extraordinary meeting of the State Duma and the Federation Council.
“There is a shovel at the top.”
At the same time, the announcement of a new phase of the war is also to be expected. “It takes a step up,” Crump says. “It’s surprising that the rumors about this are very vague.” Putin is expected to claim victory over Bachmut soon.
What surprises Crump is that there is almost no talk of an exit strategy in the West anymore. It is not yet a point on the horizon. “On the American side, the need for such an exit strategy is growing,” Crump says. “Various analyzes point to a war with NATO or even the deployment of a nuclear weapon by Putin if this continues for a long time.”
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Biden in Poland
Following his visit to President Zelensky in Kiev, US President Biden will also give a speech in Poland today. An important moment, says Crump. “He is in NATO territory in a country that feels threatened by Russia. It will demonstrate that America will defend NATO territory to the last millimetre.
Biden’s words are also important for his position in the United States. Biden will emphasize that America has been able to unite the West in support of Ukraine. He is expected to announce his intention to run for a second term soon. “With your visit to Ukraine and Poland, you put the United States on the map even more.”