Russian President Putin accuses the West of wanting to oppress other powers in the world. Moscow had indeed sought friendly relations, but had been rejected. Nevertheless, Putin is convinced that the West will have to enter into dialogue with Russia at some point.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again blamed the West for the worsening of the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, in a lengthy speech in Moscow, he declared that "sooner or later" the West will have to talk to Russia about a common future. The West is playing a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" game, Putin said. We are facing the most dangerous decade since the end of the Second World War.
Russia has tried to build friendly relations with the West and NATO. However, negative responses were received. The West is trying to make Russia vulnerable and is imposing sanctions on everyone who doesn't want to bow to it. Russia is not challenging the West, but wants to retain the right to its own development. However, the latest developments, also in Ukraine, would shift the world order. New power centers have developed, including in Asia. According to Putin, the latest developments were inevitable.
He keeps thinking about the losses that Russia suffered in Ukraine. But Russia has strengthened its sovereignty and the economy has held up better than expected. There is nothing this year that he looks back on with disappointment.
Referring to a "dirty bomb" that Russia recently accused Ukraine of developing, Putin said Ukraine has the technology to build such a bomb. However, Russia does not need to place such a bomb. He therefore asked his defense minister to inform about the risk of such a bomb. On nuclear weapons, Putin said Russia has a military doctrine that includes the use of a nuclear bomb. However, this is only intended for defensive purposes.
In fact, however, Putin and other high-ranking politicians had spoken out about it. Former President Dmitry Medvedev, currently deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, declared at the end of September: "Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary." This is "certainly not a bluff".
