Ukraine is running out of weapons. And even the West “is beginning to understand that Russia cannot be destroyed.” Therefore, Moscow will accept peace only “on our terms.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said this while visiting soldiers hospitalized in the Vishnevskij military hospital, not far from the capital. These words emerged a few days after Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, which killed 24 people and injured nearly a hundred.
The Kremlin chief called the raid on the region bordering Ukraine a “terrorist attack” against the “civilian population” and promised that it “will not go unpunished.” In fact, even Moscow did not stand idle and intensified bombings in various parts of Ukraine before the attack on Belgorod, killing 39 people and also hitting the capital Kiev. The clashes between the two armies did not stop on New Year’s Eve; Five people lost their lives in the attacks in Odessa in southern Ukraine and the Russian-controlled Donetsk region.
The war is also being waged remotely, with the two leaders, Zelensky and Putin, sending messages to their citizens and soldiers, as well as to the West. The Russian President said, “We have no desire to fight forever. But we will not give up our positions either.” “Those who just yesterday said that Russia should be strategically defeated are now looking for ways to end this conflict as soon as possible. We also want this to end as soon as possible, but only on our terms.” said. Again.
The reference is to Western countries, which, according to Putin, “are beginning to understand that Russia cannot be destroyed”: The Kremlin leader said that the country’s GDP “increased by 3.5% at the end of 2023”, saying that the unemployment rate continues. While it was “the lowest level in history”, “people’s real income increased”. A picture that contrasts with Kiev’s: “Ukraine’s economy has been completely destroyed, but is only surviving thanks to donations requested by its leaders.” In addition, Putin assured: “Kiev’s military equipment is running out and we will increase its production.”
The Russian President’s words appear to be a clear reference to Zelensky’s New Year’s speech, in which he announced that, contrary to Putin’s claims, Ukraine will increase the strength of its arsenal: in 2024, Kiev will produce “one million” more drones and receive an F. -16 warplanes from Western partners. “Our pilots are already well versed in F-16 jets and we will definitely see them in our skies,” he said. “Next year the enemy will feel the wrath of our national production,” Zelensky said.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
