Putin Vows That West Will Never Destroy Resurgent Russia [View all]
President Vladimir Putin has portrayed Russia as an invincible nation beset by foreign foes intent on weakening and even destroying it, in a combative speech that suggested he would not bow to Western pressure over the Ukraine crisis.
In an annual state-of-the-nation address, Mr Putin claimed the West had wanted to see his country dissolve in bloody chaos like Yugoslavia, but would suffer defeat like Adolf Hitler’s Germany if it challenged Russia militarily.
He also said the West used the Ukraine conflict and his country’s “reunification” with Crimea as pretexts to slap sanctions on a resurgent Russia, and suggested the sharp fall in the rouble’s value was also part of foreign scheming against Moscow.
In Ukraine, meanwhile, President Petro Poroshenko announced that government forces would halt fighting in eastern regions next Tuesday, as long as Russian-backed separatists did the same. A longer ceasefire could follow if the first day is successful.
Mr Putin spoke on Thursday in the Kremlin before members of Russia’s parliament as, far to the south in Chechnya, at least 10 police officers and 10 rebels were killed in the worst recent fighting in the region.
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https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/putin-vows-that-west-will-never-destroy-resurgent-russia-1.2025591
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