Breaking news If Russia's Sovereignty Is Threatened, It Can Use 'All Means' At Its Disposal: Putin Lastminute news
Claims that Russia plans to attack NATO are 'nonsense,' president says.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Western countries are disregarding Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons.
"If someone's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we believe it is possible to use all means at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly," he said.
Putin answered questions from the heads of leading global news agencies at the Lakhta Center as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Among the attendees was Anadolu Deputy General Manager and Editor-in-Chief Yusuf Ozhan.
Explaining that the Ukrainian army loses approximately 50,000 service personnel every month in the war, Putin said it mobilizes about 30,000 people per month.
He said that in the last two months, Ukraine has mobilized 50,000-55,000 people, "but this does not solve the problem because all this mobilization only compensates for the losses."
Putin said the US is pressuring Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18, adding: "Then they will get rid of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy."
He noted that Western countries constantly accuse Russia of using nuclear threats, which he said was incorrect, emphasizing that the US was the country that used nuclear bombs in Japan during World War II.
Highlighting that the Ukraine war should not evolve into a situation that creates the risk of nuclear war, Putin said: "For some reason, Western countries believe that Russia will never use this (nuclear weapons).
"We have a nuclear doctrine. If someone's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we believe it is possible to use all means at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly."
Putin dismissed claims that Russia plans to attack NATO as "nonsense," saying: "Have you all lost your minds? Who invented this? This is complete nonsense, do you understand?"
Expressing no discomfort about the growing Muslim population in Russia, he said: "We are not against the increase in the Muslim population. On the contrary, we are satisfied with the current situation in the Russian Federation."
"In some of our republics, where the population is predominantly Muslim, the birth rate is very good, and we are very happy," he said.
Regarding the Taliban, Putin emphasized the need to act based on realities, saying that they need to develop relations with the Taliban government controlling Afghanistan.
*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul -
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