Putin warns! Russia may adopt "asymmetric response"
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on the 5th that if Western countries provide Ukraine with long-range precision-guided weapons to attack Russian targets, Russia may adopt an "asymmetric response" and provide weapons to some overseas areas to attack those Western countries. national goals.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly called for Ukraine to be allowed to use Western-aided weapons to strike Russian territory. When answering questions from the media before the opening of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on the 5th, Putin said that if the West allows Ukraine to use more powerful weapons to attack Russia, it will be a "serious escalation" that will trap the West in a conflict with Russia. war.
Putin said that Russia would improve its air defense system and shoot down incoming Western missiles aiding Ukraine. If some Western countries are considering providing weapons to Ukraine to "strike our territory and cause problems for us," "then why don't we have the right to supply the same type of weapons to some regions in the world" so that these regions have the ability to attack those Western countries? Sensitive facilities.
"The response can be asymmetrical. We will consider it." He did not explain which countries the "parts of the world" specifically meant.
Putin warned on May 28 that some Western countries were "playing with fire" by proposing to allow Ukraine to use foreign-aided weapons to attack targets in Russia and would lead to "serious consequences."
U.S. officials confirmed on May 30 that U.S. President Joseph Biden conditionally agreed to Ukraine using U.S.-aid weapons to attack targets in Russia. Some European countries have also recently changed their stance and agreed to provide Ukraine with larger-range weapons. According to Ukrainian sources, the Ukrainian army used Western-aided weapons to attack targets in Russia for the first time on the 2nd of this month.
According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Putin specifically warned Germany on the 5th not to provide Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles for attacking targets within Russia, otherwise "Russian-German relations will be completely destroyed."
The "Taurus" missile has a range of 500 kilometers. Whether to supply such missiles to Ukraine has triggered a lot of debate in Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far not approved it, fearing that it would drag Germany directly into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Putin also criticized Germany for aiding Ukraine with Leopard main battle tanks. As a result of Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II, the first batch of German-aided tanks "caused a moral shock to the Russians when they appeared on Ukrainian soil."
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on the 5th that the German government only allows Ukraine to use German-aided weapons to counter attacks on Russian positions near Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine, and has no plans to send troops to Ukraine at the moment.
The Biden administration has not yet allowed the Ukrainian army to use Army tactical missile systems with a range of more than 300 kilometers and other weapons to attack targets in Russia. It has approved the Ukrainian army to use guided multiple launch rocket systems, high-mobility rocket launcher systems and ordinary artillery with a range of about 70 kilometers to attack targets. Russian territory adjacent to Kharkiv Oblast.
When asked about the number of Russian casualties, Putin said that according to regulations, he could not disclose specific figures, but the ratio of Russian and Ukrainian casualties was 1:5. He also said that Ukraine has 1,348 Russian prisoners of war and Russia has 6,365 Ukrainian prisoners.
Putin reiterated that Russia will only use nuclear weapons in self-defense, but the West should not assume that Russia will not use nuclear weapons. "If someone's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will consider using all available means."
Referring to Western speculation that Russia may attack NATO members, Putin dismissed it as "nonsense." "Someone made it up that Russia wants to attack NATO. Are you completely crazy? It's as stupid as this table. Who made it up? What nonsense!"
Putin said there was no need to look for some "imperial ambition" from Russia. "Don't treat Russia as an enemy, that will only hurt yourselves."
