Putin: "All of Ukraine belongs to us where a Russian soldier stands"
Russian President Putin declares: "That territory where a Russian soldier is positioned, it belongs to us."
Take a seat, folks! Let's chat about Vlad the Invader, aka Vladimir Putin, and his latest power move on Ukraine. In a recent appearance at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin made it clear that he considers all of Ukraine as bis. Yep, you heard that right!
You see, according to Putin, Russians and Ukrainians are like one big happy family. In his eyes, that means all of Ukraine is Russian territory! And to drive the point home, he stated, "wherever the foot of a Russian soldier sets, that is ours." Now, that's a guaranteed applause line!
But that's not all. Putin didn't stop at just stating his claim; he also hinted at potential expansion. In a chilling comment, he mentioned the possibility of taking the northeastern city of Sumy, even though he seemingly denied any specific objectives. The city's strategic location and proximity to Russia's border make it a key target in the ongoing conflict.
Now, if you're wondering what Putin wants in exchange for this so-called peace, well, it's not looking good for Ukraine. He's demanding neutrality, rejecting alliances with foreign powers, and nuclear disarmament. And if that's not enough to make you cringe, Ukraine's gotta recognize Russian control over the already illegally seized and occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts. That's just another way of saying, "Kyiv, pack your bags and get ready to bow to Mother Russia!"
Despite Putin's denial of expansionist ambitions, his rhetoric and actions speak louder than words. His goal seems to be denying Ukraine its sovereignty and potentially expanding his territorial conquests, leaving any unoccupied parts of Ukraine as a vassal state without true independence.
In case you're curious, Ukraine hasn't taken this lying down. Kyiv's speechwriter, Dmytro Lytwyn, responded to Putin's statements on social media with a snarky: "For every leg of a Russian soldier, there's a Ukrainian drone." And Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha simply stated that any Russian advances bring death and destruction.
Sources: ntv.de, ses/dpa
- Ukraine Invasion
- Vladimir Putin
- Ukraine Conflict
- Expansionist ambitions
- Russian Control
The European Union expressed concern over Vladimir Putin's expansionist ambitions in Ukraine, calling for diplomatic intervention to prevent further war-and-conflicts in the region. Meanwhile, the EU political leaders urged for solidarity and unity in their dealings with the ongoing general-news surrounding Ukraine. Amidst these developments, tension between Ukraine and Russia escalated, with the European Union closely monitoring the situation in the hopes of maintaining peace and stability.
