President Putin: Ukraine is not Russia's enemy
(Baonghean.vn)- The leader in Moscow affirmed that Ukraine itself is not the enemy, but the elite supporting Kiev is the real enemy of Russia.
On January 1 (local time), during a visit to a military hospital in Moscow, meeting with soldiers injured in the ongoing conflict, President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine is just a tool that the Western collective is using against Russia.
Asked about the West's long-standing support for Kiev, President Putin said the Western elite, not Ukraine, was Russia's real enemy.
“The problem is not that they are helping our enemies, but that they are our enemies. They are using Ukraine to solve their own problems,” Mr. Putin said during a visit to a military hospital.
He argued that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev was orchestrated by Western elites who were trying to defeat Russia. However, the Russian president explained that the Western collective failed to achieve its goals, and the failure was reflected in changing its tone about the conflict.
“Those who yesterday spoke about the need to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia are now looking for words about how to quickly end the conflict,” the Russian president said.
“We also want to end the conflict as quickly as possible, but only on our terms. We do not want to fight forever, but we will not give up our position,” Mr. Putin added to the servicemen.
The Russian president commented that the situation on the battlefield is changing, despite all the aid Kiev has received from the West. He said that Russia has surpassed the entire Western alliance militarily, while its production will increase further.
“Despite the fact that since ancient times the West has had such a goal – to deal with Russia, it seems that we will deal with them first,” Mr. Putin asserted.
“It is generally known: The situation on the battlefield is changing. And this is happening despite the fact that the entire so-called civilized West is fighting against us,” he told the servicemen.
According to the latest Russian estimates, more than 380,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict. Ukraine has also suffered heavy material losses, with an estimated 14,000 tanks and other armored vehicles destroyed. Moscow also claims that Ukraine lost nearly 160,000 soldiers in Kiev’s failed counter-offensive, which began in early June last year.
