RUSSIA has issued a stark warning to Britain – forming a “coalition of the willing” in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear World War Three.
The Kremlin won’t tolerate foreign boots on the ground in Ukraine – and is ready to go nuclear, Putin hawk Sergei Shoigu warned on Thursday, just hours after Russian strikes killed nine people in Kyiv.
GettyThe Russian missile strikes in Kyiv on Thursday morning left at least nine people dead[/caption]
APRussian President Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council and ex-Defence Minister[/caption]
EPAZelensky arrived in South Africa on a foreign visit on Thursday but is already on the way back to Kyiv due to the missile blitz[/caption]
GettyIntense recovery operations took place throughout Thursday morning[/caption]
Shoigu, secretary of the Russian security council and ex-defence minister, says Moscow rejects Western “peacekeepers” who plan to send their troops on the ground in Ukraine.
The politician threatened Moscow is ready to use nuclear weapons – and even revive Cold War-era atomic tests in the Arctic.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia’s massive missile assault in Kyiv – the deadliest strike on the capital in months – as a move to “pressure” the US.
“Russia understands that Ukraine is standing up, defending its rights and (it) is putting pressure on our people. It is also putting pressure on America,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president is rushing back to Ukraine after the deadly strike.
Across the border in Russia, Shoigu gave Western countries chilling warnings about meddling in the war in Ukraine, in his interview with Kremlin-owned news agency TASS.
He even claimed Europe is secretly preparing for war against Russia by 2030.
On Western troops being sent to Ukraine, he warned: “Sensible politicians in Europe understand that the implementation of such a scenario could lead to a direct clash between NATO and Russia and subsequently to World War Three.”
It is “more correct” to call such British and EU forces “contingent interventionists or occupiers”, Shoigu said, referring to Sir Keir Starmer‘s “coalition of the willing”.
“Where will these ‘peacekeepers’ come from?
“They will be units of the same NATO countries, against the presence of which Russia opposed even before the [war], which began largely because of this threat – the deployment of NATO military infrastructure in Ukraine, on our historical territory.”
Shoigu argued the UK had military presence in Ukraine even before the war began.
He said: “the same British even before the [war] began were very actively building their naval base in Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region [of Ukraine], where they not only trained naval special forces of the Ukrainian Navy, but also conducted their operations against us.
“It turns out that they will be able to return there again, but already under the flag of peacekeeping forces?”
The ex-defence minister warned: “This is exactly what French President Emmanuel Macron means when he says that Ukraine has the right to ask for the introduction of NATO contingents without consulting Russia.”
“What will these ‘peacekeepers’ protect in Ukraine?
“The Nazi regime, marches and torchlight processions with symbols of SS divisions?
“Support the persecution of Orthodox Christians?
“Depriving the Russian-speaking population of the right to speak their native language, to preserve their own culture and traditions?
“This is not a peacekeeping mission. Apparently, also for these reasons, the states that make up the real world majority do not express any particular desire to participate in such ‘peacekeeping’ initiatives.”
EPARussian President Vladimir Putin on April 22[/caption]
ReutersSergei Shoigu attends an annual meeting of the Defence Ministry Board in Moscow in 2022[/caption]
Shoigu says Europe is secretly preparing for war against Russia
Shoigu claimed: “An undisguised campaign is unfolding in Europe to prepare for a military conflict with the Russian Federation.
“Possible timeframes for such a clash are being announced at various levels – from three to five years.
“As early as 2030, European politicians and the military want to be ready to fight us.”
He said Ukraine is on the brink of economic collapse, and neither Europe nor Britain can afford to bail it out or keep supplying military aid.
He warned Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against it or ally Belarus, and was “closely following the military preparations of European countries”.
This was a reason the new nuclear-capable “wonder weapon” Oreshnik had been deployed in Belarus, he said.
Trump’s seven-point plan
THE US has drafted up a seven-point plan which, it hopes, will draw a path to peace between Ukraine and Russia.
A source with knowledge of the plan revealed the content of the main points, reports The Telegraph:
Immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
Direct talks between Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine to be barred from joining Nato
US to formally recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea
US to give de-facto recognition of four Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia along current lines of control
Ukraine to sign minerals deal to share profits on natural resources with the US
All US sanctions lifted on Russia and both countries co-operate on energy
Shoigu doubts a new era for US-Russia relations
Shoigu spoke ahead of Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow for “peace talks” with Putin.
He said he’s cautious to believe a new era had begun with US-Russia relations amid Donald Trump‘s alleged pro-Moscow stance on the war.
“We welcome such an approach and are ready for reciprocal steps.
“Time will show whether the Americans are ready to resolve the existing systemic problems which require resolution.
“This is a difficult and long process.
“The history of our relations with the United States shows that we can trust only concrete actions rather than verbal statements.”
He refused to rule out new Russian nuclear tests.
“Our position on this matter depends on the United States’ actions in this area,” he told TASS.
“Now, warranty periods for some types of their nuclear munitions are expiring and the development of new types of weapons is underway.
“This may push Washington toward resuming nuclear tests.
“In such an event, Russia may follow their lead as a response step.”
The USSR conducted its last nuclear test on the Arctic archipelago Novaya Zemlya on October 24, 1990.
Thereafter, it declared a moratorium on nuclear tests which Russia continues to observe.
In a period from 1949 to 1990, the Soviet Union conducted 715 nuclear tests.
The threat comes after Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president, warned of nuclear retaliation against countries, including Britain, that back the ICC’s war crimes arrest warrant for Putin.
He said: “what may follow the execution of an illegal ICC judgement against a head of state who is not a party to the statute of the court.
“The very enforcement of such a judgement may be seen as a casus belli against the countries involved in its adoption,” Medvedev said.
“It is worth mentioning the danger of such decisions with regard to the leadership of a nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
He warned that those who issued the warrant “can and should be prosecuted by the investigative and judicial authorities of the country whose leadership is being illegally prosecuted”.
AFPSergei Shoigu salutes to soldiers during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
