Russia will treat US troops in Ukraine as interventionists: Putin
3 Min Read
The Russian President expresses Russia's readiness for negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine and says the talks have to be based on realistic premises.
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with winners of the Leaders of Russia national management competition at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Sergey Savostyanov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
If the US troops appear in Ukraine, Moscow will treat them as interventionists, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in an interview with Rossiya Segodnya Director-General Dmitry Kiselev for the Russia-1 broadcaster and Ria Novosti.
"The United States has announced that it is not going to deploy troops. We know what US troops on Russian territory are, they are interventionists. And we will treat this as such, even if they appear on the territory of Ukraine. And they [the US] understand this," Putin said.
He affirmed Russia's preparedness, both militarily and technologically, for a possible nuclear conflict, although things are unlikely to reach this point.
US President Joe Biden is part of a "traditional school of politics" and the US has many experts in the Russia-US relationship and strategic deterrence, Putin pointed out.
"That is why I do not think that everything is rushing head-on [in that direction], but we are ready for this," he indicated, noting that there has not yet been any need to use tactical nuclear weapons as part of the war in Ukraine.
He said that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons if the existence of the Russian state is threatened, stressing that his country's nuclear triad is more advanced than that of any other country.
The Russian leader acknowledged that the United States is developing nuclear forces, but considered that this does not mean that they are ready to unleash a nuclear war tomorrow.
Russia ready for talks on Ukraine, but not discussions shaped by wishful thinking: Putin
Touching on possible negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, Putin expressed Russia's readiness for negotiations, adding that the talks have to be based on realistic premises and not on wishful thinking.
He stressed that the negotiations should not serve as a temporary pause to allow Kiev to rearm itself, but as a serious conversation to ensure Russia's security guarantees, reiterating that Moscow wants to resolve the Ukraine crisis through peaceful means.
Commenting on the possibility of a "fair treaty" with the West, Putin mentioned that it would require written guarantees that should be good enough for Russia, adding that it was currently premature to discuss this prospect.
Elsewhere, the Russian President made it clear that the potential presence of foreign troops and the shipment of additional Western military aid to Ukraine will not shape the course of the conflict on the battlefield.
Regarding the leaked recording of discussions of German officers regarding a possible attack against the Crimean Bridge, Putin said the talks are aimed at scaring Russia but are nothing more than a fantasy.
