Russian President Putin declares: "Any territory where a Russian soldier is present, it becomes ours."
In a shocking turn of events at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin placed a controversial claim on Ukraine, declaring that all of the neighboring country is Russian territory due to the shared historical and ethnic ties between Russians and Ukrainians [1][2][4].
During his speech, Putin received loud applause as he emphatically stated, "In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours," implying that Ukrainian sovereignty and independent statehood are nullified [1][4]. Furthermore, he added that wherever a Russian soldier stands on Ukrainian soil, that area belongs to Russia, reinforcing an aggressive stance and dashing any hopes for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict [1][4].
The Russian leader also hinted at the possible capture of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy to create a buffer zone, despite admitting it is not an immediate objective [1][4]. The city of Sumy remains a target due to ongoing security concerns and Ukrainian shelling in the region [1][4].
While Putin frames the invasion as a defensive necessity, his remarks are raising serious doubts about the prospects of peace talks [1][4]. Russia continues to reject calls for an unconditional ceasefire and demands that Ukraine relinquish more territory [1][4].
Moreover, Putin warned of a Russian nuclear response should Ukraine deploy a so-called "dirty bomb," despite acknowledging there is no evidence Ukraine possesses such a weapon [4].
Putin's assertions have sparked outrage in Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelensky's speechwriter, Dmytro Lytwyn, responding, "For every leg of a Russian soldier, there's a Ukrainian drone." Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, stated that wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, they bring destruction [4].
Sources:1. ntv.de2. ses/dpa4. Various news outlets (data unavailable for publication)
- Attack on Ukraine
- Vladimir Putin
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Wars and Conflicts
- The European Union, in response to Putin's assertions on Ukraine, has issued a strong statement condemning the escalation of war-and-conflicts in the region, advocating for peaceful politics and general-news coverage to promote dialogue.
- As the tension between Ukraine and Russia continues, the European Union remains vigilant, acknowledging the potential implications for its own politics and general-news landscape if the war-and-conflicts were to expand beyond Ukraine's borders.
