Putin issues chilling nuclear annihilation threat as ‘WW3 has begun’ | World | News
Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling new World War 3 threat (Image: Getty)
Vladimir Putin today issued a chilling new World War Three threat to the West, vowing to strengthen his military machine and speed up the development of his nuclear triad and advanced weapons. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of already triggering WW3, stressing the only way to stop him was intense military and economic pressure.
The leaders spoke the day before the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has seen millions of dead and wounded. A bellicose Putin showed no inkling that he intends to reach any peace deal, but instead indicated he is seeking victory, declaring he wants a “win”. He spoke as Ukrainian drone attacks inflicted major flight chaos on Russia, closing all four Moscow airports, and striking key energy targets deep inside his state. On World War Three, Zelensky told the BBC: “I believe that Putin has already started it. “The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him.
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Russia inflicted more death and destruction, killing a woman, 20, and a man, 45, in Odesa (Image: East2West news)
“Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves.”
Putin – in a chilling broadcast marking the annual Defender of the Fatherland Day, honouring Russian troops – declared : “The colossal strength of our army and our multinational society lies in the ability to win together for common goals.”
He vowed: “We will continue our extensive work to strengthen the [Russian] army and navy, taking into account the evolving international situation, drawing on combat experience gained during the special military operation [war against Ukraine].
“The development of the nuclear triad, which serves as a guarantee of Russia’s security and effectively ensures strategic deterrence and the balance of power in the world, remains an absolute priority.”
The triad comprises land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, missiles launched from strategic submarines, and nuclear bombs carried by bomber aircraft.
He stressed his commitment to new-age weapons at a time NATO states are already playing catchup with recent Russian advancements.
Almetyevsk attack (Image: east2west news)
“We will accelerate the development of advanced systems for the Armed Forces,” said Putin.
“I am confident of one thing: this equipment will always be in safe hands.”
Putin claimed his current forces – who have struggled to make small gains in Ukraine – “worthily continues the traditions of valour and honour bequeathed by their ancestors”.
They were inspired to emulate “military exploits and great, immortal victories”, he claimed.
Today “during a special military operation [war against Ukraine], representatives of all the peoples of our vast country heroically defend Russia’s interests shoulder to shoulder”.
Zelensky said: “There are different attitudes towards the Third World War. I believe that Putin started it.The question is, to what extent he can seize certain territories, and the question is how to stop him.
Ukrainian drone attacks inflicted major flight chaos on Russia, closing all four Moscow airports (Image: east2west news)
“Not because Russia wouldn’t win, but because Russia wants to impose its own worldview and change the lives of people, which they like and choose for themselves.
“Therefore, I believe and have always believed that Putin has already started this war.
“And we are stopping him from a large-scale, full-scale, Third World War. Today, we are a bulwark and are stopping Putin.”
Zelensky has not decided whether to stand again as president when an election is held. “I might run, and I might not,” he said.
A dozen Russian airports were closed temporarily as Ukrainian drones struck deep inside Putin’s territory overnight.
All Moscow airports – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukov – were impacted.
The Kremlin dictator vowed to boost ‘colossal’ strength of Russian army (Image: east2west news)
“Not because Russia wouldn’t win, but because Russia wants to impose its own worldview and change the lives of people, which they like and choose for themselves.
“Therefore, I believe and have always believed that Putin has already started this war.
“And we are stopping him from a large-scale, full-scale, Third World War. Today, we are a bulwark and are stopping Putin.”
Zelensky has not decided whether to stand again as president when an election is held. “I might run, and I might not,” he said.
A dozen Russian airports were closed temporarily as Ukrainian drones struck deep inside Putin’s territory overnight.
All Moscow airports – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukov – were impacted.
The aftermath of an attack in Odesa (Image: east2west news)
A Phuket to Moscow tourist flight operated by Aeroflot made an emergency landing in Nizhny Novgorod due to a drone threat.
The 400 or so passengers were held on the plane for six hours.
Ukraine also staged a dramatic strike on a key oil artery in Tatarstan, hitting the Kalikino Pump Station owned by Transneft-Privkamye. More than a dozen loud explosions were heard, starting around 2:30 am local time.
Flames and black smoke were seen at the facility near Almetyevsk, in a blast which could impact on controversial Russian exports to Hungary via the Druzhba oil pipeline, and which will certainly hit internal supply routes across Putin’s territory.
Russia inflicted more death and destruction, killing a woman, 20, and a man, 45, in Odesa and two men, 33 and 45, in Zaporizhzhia.
