Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the West for pushing Russia into a corner, forcing it to its “red lines” and compelling a response.
Speaking to a meeting of defence officials on 16 Dec 2024, Putin restated that Moscow had no option but to act in the face of what it smells as escalating perils from the West. Putin’s remarks came amid increasing concerns over the United States’ development and potential deployment of short and medium-range missiles.
The Russian president voiced concern at these developments, indicating that Russia is closely observing the situation. He cautioned that if the U.S. moves with the deployment of such missiles, Russia would react by lifting all voluntary limitations it has set on its missile deployments.
The Russian president further stressed that the country’s nuclear arsenal is planned solely for deterrence, highlighting its strategic value in keeping balance. Putin also emphasised the continued progress of Russian forces in Ukraine, arguing that 189 settlements had been fetched under Russian control this year.
In November this year, President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use effective long-range American weapons inside Russia, as North Korean troops stationed in support of Moscow’s effort. The conclusion comes as Moscow has deployed nearly 50,000 troops to Kursk, the southern Russian area where Kyiv launched its shock counteroffensive in the summer, to ready to take back territory.
The decision to permit the use of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, inside Russia, had been under deliberation for months. American administrators had been split on the wisdom of letting the new capability. Some had worries about escalating the war, while others were concerned about declining stockpiles of weapons.
