Putin blames the West for Ukraine war as he suspends Russia's participation in New START
21 February 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again accused the West of provoking his country's invasion of Ukraine in a combative speech to lawmakers and elites in Moscow. The speech came just hours before US President Joe Biden was set to give his own view on Russia's war in Ukraine from Poland. Putin's remarks were largely a rehash of previous comments, but he did announce that Moscow was suspending its participation in New START, the strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the US and Russia. Putin did not specify his reasons for the move, but blamed the US and NATO.
New START is the last remaining nuclear arms reduction deal between the two countries, limiting each side to 1,550 long-range nuclear warheads. The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, described Putin's decision to suspend Russia's participation in the treaty as dismantling the whole arms control architecture.
In his speech, Putin accused the US and its European allies of wanting to acquire "limitless power," and claimed that the West was playing a dirty game. He also accused NATO members of openly discussing supplying Ukraine with nuclear weapons, a claim that has been denied. Putin suggested that Western economic sanctions on Russia were not working, and said that he plans to strengthen Russia's diplomatic and economic ties to India, Iran, and other countries in the Middle East.
Although Putin praised Russian soldiers, he did not unveil any new military objectives connected to Ukraine, but stated that he would "systematically" continue the invasion he ordered a year ago. Putin ruled out Russia making a first nuclear strike in Ukraine and said that Russia would only conduct nuclear tests if the US did so first.
Biden's speech in Warsaw followed an unplanned visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reiterated American commitment to supplying the country with aid and weapons for the long term.
New START is the last remaining nuclear arms reduction deal between the two countries, limiting each side to 1,550 long-range nuclear warheads. The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, described Putin's decision to suspend Russia's participation in the treaty as dismantling the whole arms control architecture.
In his speech, Putin accused the US and its European allies of wanting to acquire "limitless power," and claimed that the West was playing a dirty game. He also accused NATO members of openly discussing supplying Ukraine with nuclear weapons, a claim that has been denied. Putin suggested that Western economic sanctions on Russia were not working, and said that he plans to strengthen Russia's diplomatic and economic ties to India, Iran, and other countries in the Middle East.
Although Putin praised Russian soldiers, he did not unveil any new military objectives connected to Ukraine, but stated that he would "systematically" continue the invasion he ordered a year ago. Putin ruled out Russia making a first nuclear strike in Ukraine and said that Russia would only conduct nuclear tests if the US did so first.
Biden's speech in Warsaw followed an unplanned visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reiterated American commitment to supplying the country with aid and weapons for the long term.
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