Putin: US fuelling conflict in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

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Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Washington on Tuesday of attempting to prolong the conflict in Ukraine and fueling conflicts around the world, most notably with the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

Addressing the opening ceremony of a security conference in Moscow via video link, Putin said that "the situation in Ukraine shows that the US is trying to prolong this conflict. And they act in exactly the same way, fuelling the potential for conflict in Asia, Africa, and Latin America." 

"The American adventure in relation to Taiwan is not just a trip of an individual irresponsible politician, but part of a purposeful, conscious US strategy to destabilize and make chaotic the situation in the region and the world," he added.

He called Pelosi's visit to Taiwan a "brazen demonstration of disrespect for other countries' sovereignty and for its (Washington's) international obligations."

"We see this as a carefully planned provocation," Putin said.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have been strained since Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in late February.

The US is sending hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons, not to mention facilitating the way for mercenaries to fight in Ukraine.

Since February 24, the United States has committed $5.6 billion in military supplies to Ukraine, ranging from heavy artillery to tactical drones to armored vehicles.

The latest batch of weapons announced is worth $350 million, as per the Pentagon. It consists of 18 155 mm howitzers, 36,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition, 18 tactical vehicles for towing 155 mm howitzers, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HMARS, and four tactical vehicles for equipment and spare parts recovery.

In addition, the Pentagon will provide two Harpoon coastal defense systems, thousands of secure radios, night vision, and thermal devices, as well as funding for training and maintenance. The total value of this package is $650 million.

Meanwhile, a senior US defense official warned that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of US weapons sent to Ukraine might “drop into a big black hole, and you have almost no sense of it at all after a short period of time."

Since the beginning of the war on February 24, 2022, the US and the EU have multiplied punitive measures to isolate Russia by targeting its banking system, and freezing the assets of its leaders and its industries.

Simultaneously, Putin has sought to strengthen ties with African and Asian countries, most notably China.

During Pelosi's August visit to Taiwan, Moscow stood in complete solidarity with key ally Beijing.

Read more: US destabilizing world: Russia over Pelosi visit to Taiwan

Asia-Pacific states' drills within AUKUS to blow up region

On his account, Russia's Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, stated that Moscow has no intention of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

"From a military point of view, there is no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine to achieve the set goals," Shoigu said. 

"The main purpose of Russian nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack," he added.

The use of NATO developments on joint nuclear training within the AUKUS alliance is not ruled out, according to Shoigu, who added that it will "blow up" the Asia-Pacific region.

"The transfer of the practice of nuclear training from Europe will blow up the region. Although it can be assumed that this is precisely the goal set by the United States," he concluded.