Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday cautioned the country’s Western adversaries against crossing the “red line” with Russia, stating that its response to any such advances would be “asymmetrical, swift and tough.”
The leader made the remarks during his annual State of the Nation Address, which was largely focused on reflecting on Russia’s journey through the COVID-19 pandemic and the path forward. However, Putin dedicated some time at the end of his speech to clarify the “meaning and purpose of Russia’s policy in the international arena,” and accused some countries of picking unnecessary fights with the country “for no reason at all.”
Putin slammed nations for consistently taking a hostile and “arrogant” tone with Russia, despite its wishes to maintain good relations with the international community. “We really do not want to burn bridges,” the leader said, noting, however, that mistaking Russia’s “good intentions for indifference or weakness” would not be tolerated. “Those behind provocations that threaten the core interests of our security will regret what they have done in a way they have not regretted anything for a long time,” the leader warned.
Russia has come under heavy criticism in recent months for its aggressive tactics against Ukraine. The country has engaged in a military build-up at its shared borders, which has heightened the risk of a military confrontation between the two sides in eastern Ukraine. The region has already been in the throes of a conflict since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, with bloody clashes between pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian government forces. Despite heavy condemnation from Ukraine as well as the broader international community, Moscow has maintained that its actions are defensive in nature and do not pose a threat to anyone.
The country has also come under fire for conducting massive cyberattacks against the United States (US), supporting authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s oppressive regime in Belarus, meddling in US presidential elections, and its treatment of Kremlin critic and opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The US imposed heavy sanctions on Russia in response to such actions, but Putin dismissed the measures as yet another example of “brutal attempts [by certain actors] to impose their will on others by force. “Unfortunately, everyone in the world seems to be used to the practice of politically motivated, illegal economic sanctions,” the leader said.
Putin’s speech came amid nationwide anti-government protests in support of Navalny. The jailed leader, who has been under a hunger strike since the end of March, was moved to a prison hospital earlier this week following a significant deterioration in his health. Navalny had been complaining of acute pain in his back and legs but was reportedly denied any medical assistance by prison authorities, which led to him protesting by refusing food. Thousands took to the streets across the country on Wednesday to highlight the leader’s plight. According to a local watchdog, 1496 individuals were detained by police forces, including 662 in St. Petersburg and 95 in the city of Ufa. Navalny’s spokeswoman was also reportedly jailed for ten days.
Putin Cautions West Against Crossing “Red Line” in State of the Nation Address
The leader warned that Russia’s response to any such advances would be “asymmetrical, swift and tough.”
April 22, 2021
SOURCE: AP