Tag: vladimir putin

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Putin: Ukraine Won’t Last A Week Without Western Aid

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden said that he “does worry” US support for Ukraine might get derailed, reports Asian Lite News

As the West continues to provide aid for war-torn Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Ukraine would not survive for more than “a week” without Western military and financial aid, reported Al Jazeera.

Putin made this claim on the same day when the European Union official warned that the bloc could not replace the funding gap if the US’s support dries up for Kyiv.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden said that he “does worry” US support for Ukraine might get derailed.

Putin while speaking at the meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, said that Ukraine was being propped up “thanks to multi-billion donations that come each month”.

“If one just stops, it will all die in a week,” Putin said.

“The same applies to the defence system. Just imagine the aid stops tomorrow. It will live for only a week when they run out of ammo,” he added.

Additionally, Putin further noted that Ukraine had lost over 90,000 troops since Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian forces till date.

Moreover, while addressing a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Spain on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the EU could not replace the US as Kyiv’s primary donor.

At a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Spain on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU could not replace the US as Kyiv’s primary donor.

“Can Europe fill the gap left by the US? Well, certainly Europe cannot replace the US,” Borrell said.

War in Ukraine. (Photo: Instagram)

Moreover, the EU and the US, which includes most NATO members are crucial in Ukraine’s fight against Russia.

Over this period of time, the EU and its member states have promised over USD 100 billion of aid to Ukraine, including financing weapon deliveries.

Meanwhile, Washington has committed USD 43 billion in military assistance, whereas, Congress has approved USD 113 billion, including humanitarian aid.

However, following the weekend deal struck with opposition Republicans to avert the US government shutdown, the new US funding for Ukraine has been at a standstill.

Following the US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to oust Republican Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, it has made the Ukraine support even more uncertain.

Hours after the short-term spending bill was passed to avoid a government shutdown, US President Joe Biden assured that Washington will “not walk away” from supporting Ukraine, CNN reported.

“I want to assure our American allies and the American people and the people of Ukraine that you can count on our support. We will not walk away,” CNN quoted Biden as saying.

Moreover, some of the hardliners also want US aid to Ukraine to cease, according to Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking to the meeting in Spain of European leaders on Thursday expressed concerns about Washington’s “political storms” but noted that he was confident that he still had US bipartisan backing.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron reassured Zelenskyy of further support and pledged “tireless” support for Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron reinforced that message in a meeting with Zelenskyy, pledging “tireless” support for Ukraine. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Ongoing War Costs Ukraine’s Infrastructure $151.2 Billion

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Putin Hints at Russia’s Return to Nuclear Testing

Putin highlighted that Russia has tested a new nuclear-powered missile delivery system but had not decided whether to resume explosives testing…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin while speaking at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, suggested that Russia could return to nuclear weapons testing and might withdraw from the nuclear test ban treaty, reported Al Jazeera.

Putin on Thursday spoke about concerns regarding nuclear weapons, energy and the war in Ukraine.

Russian President said that it was “theoretically” possible for Russia to withdraw from the nuclear test ban treaty, pointing out that it generally prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons, but that no decision has been made yet, Al Jazeera reported.

He further highlighted that Russia has tested a new nuclear-powered missile delivery system but had not decided whether to resume explosives testing, Al Jazeera reported.

“I think no person of sound mind and clear memory would think of using nuclear weapons against Russia,” Putin said in his speech at a foreign policy forum experts in Sochi.

“I hear calls to start testing nuclear weapons, to return to testing,” he added. “I am not ready to say whether we really need to conduct tests or not.”

He later announced that Russia has effectively completed the development of the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile. Moreover, he said that he would work on putting them into production.

“We conducted the last successful test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered global-range cruise missile,” he said. It was the first announcement of a successful test of the Burevestnik and is translated as “Storm Petrel.

Burevestnik was code-named Skyfall by NATO and many Western experts have been sceptical about it, stating that a nuclear engine could be highly unreliable, reported Al Jazeera.

Putin highlighted the country’s nuclear capabilities in his speech, as relations between Russia and Western powers remain tense over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On February 24, 2022, Russia send troops into Ukraine in an escalation of the Russia-Ukrainian War which began in 2014. The ‘invasion’ killed tens of thousands on both sides.

Russian forces have been accused of mass civilian casualties and of torturing captured Ukrainian soldiers, reported Al Jazeera.

Since then, thousands of civilians have been killed and millions of others have fled the country, according to the United Nations.

On Thursday, a Russian missile strike resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people in a village near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, marking one of the most devastating attacks on civilians since the conflict’s onset.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that Moscow’s forces targeted a cafe and a shop in Hroza, located in the Kharkiv region, just after midday local time.

Putin also reiterated Russia’s opposition to Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which he considered as a tool of US foreign policy, according to Al Jazeera.

However, he said that he has no objections to Ukraine joining the European Union. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ‘Leadership led by national interests’: Putin Heaps Praise on India

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‘Leadership led by national interests’: Putin Heaps Praise on India

Putin alleged that the West is trying to cast everyone “who is not ready to blindly follow these Western elites as the enemy”….reports Asian Lite News

Heaping praise on India, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Indian leadership is “self-directed” and led by the country’s national interests, according to Reuters.

Speaking at an event, Putin alleged that the West is trying to cast everyone “who is not ready to blindly follow these Western elites as the enemy”.

“At a certain point in time, they tried to do the same with India. Now they are flirting, of course. We all understand this very well. We feel and see the situation in Asia. Everything is clear. I want to say that the Indian leadership is self-directed. It is led by the national interests. I think that those attempts make no sense. But, they continue. They are trying to cast Arabs as the enemy. They are trying to be careful, but overall, that’s what it all boils down to,” Putin said.

The Russian President said countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa deserve more representation in the UN Security Council and added that the UN should be reformed but gradually, according to Reuters.

Calling India a “powerful country”, Putin said that it is growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia-based RT News reported.

“…India, more than 1.5 billion of population, more than 7 per cent of economic growth…that’s a powerful country, mighty country. And it’s growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi…,” Putin said, according to a video shared by RT News.

Earlier on Wednesday, Putin had called PM Modi a “very wise man”, adding that India is making great strides in development under his leadership, RT reported.

“We share very good political relations with Prime Minister Modi, he is a very wise man. And India has been making very great strides in development under his leadership. This fully meets the interest of both India and Russia to work on this agenda”.

Last month, too, he had praised PM Modi stating he was doing the “right thing” in promoting the Make in India programme. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Yudh Abhyas Cements India-US Military Ties

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No One Should Have the Right to Rule Other Nations, Says Putin

Moscow, Feb 21 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly (Russia's two-chamber Parliament), in Moscow on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

The Russian President also stressed that a lasting global peace will not be established until all countries’ opinion is respected and all feel safe…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that imposing rules on any other country should be prohibited and no one has the right to rule the world for others.

Addressing the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin stressed the necessity to build an open, interconnected and diversified world where imposing rules on other countries should be prohibited.

“It should be forbidden to impose on any country or people how they should live, how they should feel. Only true cultural and civilisational diversity will ensure the well-being of people and the balance of interests,” he said, adding that no one has the right to rule the world for others.

“No one will decide for everyone, and not everyone will decide on everything, but those who are directly affected by a particular problem will agree on what to do and how to do it,” Putin said.

The Russian President also stressed that a lasting global peace will not be established until all countries’ opinion is respected and all feel safe, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Russia’s defence policy, Putin added that Russia will soon begin mass production of the Sarmat strategic missile system, and the last successful test of the Burevestnik, a global-range nuclear-powered cruise missile, has been conducted.

He noted that there is no need to change the nuclear weapons-related part of the national nuclear doctrine since “no lucid person would ever consider using nuclear weapons against Russia”.

ALSO READ: Putin accepts Xi’s invitation to visit China

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Putin accepts Xi’s invitation to visit China

Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, July 04, 2023.(Photo:IANS/Kremlin)

Putin emphasized that this visit aligns perfectly with the interests of both Russia and China…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was pleased to accept an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China in October for the Belt and Road Forum, Russian State Media reported.

“I was certainly pleased to accept the Chinese president’s invitation to visit China in October as part of an event promoting the [Chinese] president’s idea of One Belt, One Road, which has turned into an international brand,” Putin pointed out during a meeting with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, according to TASS.

Putin emphasized that this visit aligns perfectly with the interests of both Russia and China, “as it harmonizes our ideas to create a vast Eurasian space.” “We are quite in sync,” he added.

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously stated that preparations were in progress for Putin’s visit to China, with the announcement of specific dates forthcoming.

The Belt and Road Initiative, a concept introduced by Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to symbolically recreate the ancient Silk Road, providing China with access to markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and other regions. The initiative also seeks to enhance international trade and investment projects involving a multitude of nations, utilizing both Chinese and foreign capital. To date, over 150 countries and international organizations have joined this initiative.

A couple of days back, North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia for a closely watched summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia marks his first foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic as during the pandemic, North Korea’s borders were sealed.

The standout moment of his trip was when he received five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone and a bulletproof vest as gifts from a regional governor on his Moscow visit, according to Al Jazeera. (ANI)

ALSO READ: China poses threat to UK way of life, says Sunak

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Putin To Meet Erdogan In Sochi

MOSCOW, March 5, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2020. Russia and Turkey agreed Thursday on a ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan which lasted for about six hours. (Sputnik/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

Their talks come a week before Turkey and the United Nations seek to revive a Ukraine grain export deal that aided ease a global food crisis.

President Vladimir Putin will meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday in Sochi, Al Jazeera reported, quoting Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Their talks come a week before Turkey and the United Nations seek to revive a Ukraine grain export deal that aided ease a global food crisis.

Peskov told the media persons on Friday, “It is true that the talks will be held on Monday. They will be in Sochi in the middle of the day.”

As international attempts to patch up the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which sent grain and other supplies to regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia where famine is a growing threat, continue, the declaration put an end to weeks of speculation about when and where the two presidents may meet next. It came to an end in July when Russia abruptly withdrew from the agreement, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Russia and Ukraine are important global providers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other agricultural products that are essential to developing countries.

The deal was mediated by Turkey and the UN in July 2022. During the war with Russia, it permitted Ukraine to resume exporting food from three of its Black Sea ports.

Under the initiative, vessels sailed to and from Ukraine while ship and cargo inspections were managed from Turkey. While the deal was in force, around 33,000 tonnes of grain left Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera.

The UN said that the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—which Russia refers to as a “special military operation”—was to blame for the world food crisis, which was addressed by the Black Sea grain agreement, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: US, 6 Other Nations Hold War Drills

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Turkey preparing to host Putin in August

MOSCOW, March 5, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2020. Russia and Turkey agreed Thursday on a ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan which lasted for about six hours. (Sputnik/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

One of the key issues expected on the agenda is whether the Black Sea Grain Initiative will be prolonged, reports Asian Lite News

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he is ready to host his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Ankara next month for talks on several issues.

“We are preparing to host Putin in August,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul.

According to Erdogan, one of the key issues expected on the agenda of the two leaders’ talks is whether the Black Sea Grain Initiative will be prolonged, reports Xinhua news agency.

The deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN that allows Ukraine to export grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports, will expire on July 17.

Erdogan had called for extending the deal last week, stressing that poor African countries in particular are in desperate need of grain shipments from Ukraine.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was launched in July 2022 to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

ALSO READ: Pentagon to deploy 3000 reserve troops in Europe

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US frets as Russia and Cuba forge closer ties

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Alvaro Lopez Miera.

Russian defence minster told the Cuban military leader that the northern Caribbean nation has been and remains the “most important ally” of Russia in the region, reports Ateet Sharma

As the United States goes ahead with NATO expansion to the borders of Russia, the Kremlin is making some sharp moves right at America’s doorstep by displaying renewed energy and vigour in rebuilding relations with Cuba for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Washington has already raised concerns over increased Chinese military and intelligence activities in Cuba after recent reports suggested that Beijing is setting up a spy base on the island.

On Tuesday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Alvaro Lopez Miera, the head of Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR), held some intense discussions at Moscow’s National Centre for Defence Control of the Russian Federation.

Shoigu told the Cuban military leader that the northern Caribbean nation has been and remains the “most important ally” of Russia in the region. He also emphasised that the composition of a large travelling delegation testifies to the mood of the Cuban side to discuss a wide range of issues in the military and military-technical field.

“General of the Army Sergei Shoigu stressed that in the conditions when the United States has been carrying out an illegal and illegitimate trade and economic blockade of Cuba for many decades, we are ready to help the Island of Freedom, lend a shoulder to our Cuban friends,” said a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry after the meeting.

Interestingly, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Mappero has just returned home from an 11-day trip to Russia, during which he also met Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. During their meeting, Putin acknowledged that relations between Moscow and Havana are expanding despite difficulties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin with President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, in Moscow last November (Image courtesy: Kremlin.ru)

Last November, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez undertook an official visit to Moscow and in April this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Cuba.

Citing Mappero’s visit, Shoigu said that Russian-Cuban relations are on the rise and a “high rate of development of the political dialogue” between both countries has been achieved.

“Cuba, of course, has been and remains the most important ally of Russia in the region. Our Cuban friends reaffirmed their attitude towards our country, including demonstrating a full understanding of the reasons for the start of a special military operation in Ukraine,” the Russian defence chief mentioned.

Labelling them as contrary to the UN Charter, Cuba has opposed unilateral anti-Russian sanctions and credited Russia for playing a leading role in the “fight against fascism” that it believes is spreading across Europe.

“The United States and some of its allies have repeatedly invaded sovereign countries in pursuit of their interests. Cuba is against such a policy of hypocrisy and double standards. History will require the United States to be held accountable for the consequences of its aggressive military doctrine beyond NATO’s borders, which threatens peace, security and international stability,” said Alvaro Lopez Miera.

The Cuban PM, who was in Russia between June 6-17, participated in the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council at Sochi, attended the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum and held several bilateral meetings, including with Putin and the Vice President of the Russian Security Council Dmitri Medvedev.

(Kremlin Photo)

Besides increasing economic, military, energy and food security cooperation, the two strategic allies also vowed to renew efforts to boost the tourism sector with Russian airline Aeroflot resuming its commercial flights to Havana on July 1.

Russia continues to participate in the international campaign of humanitarian aid to Cuba, providing assistance to Havana both bilaterally and through specialized UN programmes.

In March 2022, 19.5 thousand tonnes of Russian wheat arrived in Havana, followed by 187 tonnes of sunflower oil as well as about 700 tonnes of shelled peas delivered through the United Nations.

In February 2023, Moscow shipped another humanitarian cargo carrying 25 thousand tonnes of wheat.

(India Narrative)

ALSO READ: Russia’s Wagner Mutiny Raises China’s Worry Levels

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Putin’s iron grip on power at risk amid Wagner mutiny

Perhaps Prigozhin dreamt he could push Putin into a change at the top of a ministry of defence the Wagner chief has publicly berated for months. But Putin’s address on Saturday morning has eradicated that prospect.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing the most serious threat to his hold on power in all the 23 years he’s run the nuclear state, media reports said on Saturday.

And it is staggering to behold the veneer of total control he has maintained all that time – the ultimate selling point of his autocracy – crumble overnight, CNN reported.

The opening salvos of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s disobedience were at times assessed as a feint – a bid by Putin to keep his generals on edge with a loyal henchman as their outspoken critic. But with Putin forced to admit that Rostov-on-Don, his main military hub, is out of his control puts paid to any idea that this was managed by the Kremlin. It is likely however Wagner’s units have planned some of this for a while.

The justification for this rebellion appeared urgent and spontaneous – an apparent air strike on a Wagner camp in the forest, which the Russian Ministry of Defence has denied – appeared hours after a dissection of the rationale behind the war by Prigozhin, CNN reported.

He partially spoke the truth about the war’s disastrous beginnings: Russia was not under threat from NATO attack, and Russians were not being persecuted. The one deceit he maintained was to suggest Russia’s top brass was behind the invasion plan, and not Putin himself. Wagner’s forces have pulled themselves together very fast and moved quickly into Rostov. That’s hard to do spontaneously in one afternoon, CNN reported.

Wagner chief stands in captured salt mine in Soledar town

Perhaps Prigozhin dreamt he could push Putin into a change at the top of a ministry of defence the Wagner chief has publicly berated for months. But Putin’s address on Saturday morning has eradicated that prospect.

This is now an existential choice for Russia’s elite – between the president’s faltering regime, and the dark, mercenary Frankenstein it created to do its dirty work, which has turned on its masters, as per CNN.

It is a moment of clarity for Russia’s military too. A few years ago, Prigozhin’s mild critiques would have led to elite special forces in balaclavas walking him away. But now he roams freely, with his sights openly on marching to Moscow.

This is not the first time this spring Moscow has looked weak. The drone attack on the Kremlin in May must have caused the elite around Putin to question how on earth the capital’s defences were so weak. Days later, elite country houses were targeted by yet more Ukrainian drones. Among the Russian rich, Friday’s events will remove any question about whether they should doubt Putin’s grip on power, CNN reported.

ALSO READ: Coup in Russia? Wagner group seize military facilities in 2 cities

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Kremlin orders arrest of Wagner chief

Dubbed 'Putin's chef' in the West, Yevgeny Prigozhin takes credit for setting up Wagner Group

Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Wagner mercenary group, said the “evil” in the Russian military leadership must be stopped and vowed to “march for justice”, but the Wagner chief clarified that he was not attempting a military coup, reports Asian Lite News

The Kremlin has ordered the arrest of Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Wagner mercenary group, after Russian intelligence accused him of calling for an “armed rebellion”.

Late Friday night, the Federal Security Service (FSB) urged Wagner mercenaries to “stop the columns” and detain their leader after the latter vowed retaliation over the Russian military allegedly killing a “huge amount” of Wagner fighters during a strike on a camp earlier in the day, reports CNN.

Russian state TV also interrupted programming Friday night to report a Defence Ministry statement claiming Prigozhin’s comments “did not correspond to reality” and demanded him to halt “illegal actions”.

In the wake of the developments, security has been stepped up around Moscow and in the city of Rostov near southeast Ukraine, according to state media reports.

Earlier on Friday, Prigozhin claimed that his forces crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine, but did not give any proof to back his allegation, reports the BBC.

“Many dozens, tens of thousands of lives, of Russian soldiers will be punished. I ask that nobody put up any resistance.”

He also said the “evil” in the Russian military leadership must be stopped and vowed to “march for justice”, but the Wagner chief clarified that he was not attempting a military coup

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu. (Photo: Twitter@mod_russia)

According to the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation and is receiving “constant” updates.

Since Russia launched its ongoing war against Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a power struggle between Prigozhin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, media reports say.

Their battle initially centred around Bakhmut — while the regular Russian army struggled elsewhere, the Wagner group managed to make gains.

Prigozhin used his forces’ success as an opportunity to build his own profile and criticise the troops under Shoigu, reports the BBC.

He accused the Defence Ministry of denying his mercenaries ammunition, even threatening to pull out.

And when victories occurred, both sides tried to take credit.

Prigozhin has however, always avoided criticising President Putin.

In the hours before the alleged attack on the Wagner camp, he posted more inflammatory comments on social media, accusing the Defence Ministry of deceiving Putin about the threat posed by Ukraine ahead of his February 2022 invasion, reports CNN.

He also questioned Russian motives for the war.

ALSO READ: ‘Russia maintains economic stability despite challenges’