Topline
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. government of trying to prolong the conflict in Ukraine and raising tensions along the Taiwan Strait while delivering the opening address at the Moscow International Security Conference on Tuesday as Russia’s invasion of its neighbor continues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the opening ceremony of the International Military … [+]
Key Facts
Putin, who has previously criticized U.S. delivery of weapons to Ukraine, accused Washington once again of trying to draw out the conflict while using Ukrainian civilians as cannon fodder.
Putin reiterated his earlier claims about the leadership in Kyiv of engaging in neo-nazism, without any evidence.
The Russian president also slammed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, claiming it was “not just a trip of an individual irresponsible politician” but a concerted effort by Washington to destabilize the situation in that part of the world.
Putin then alleged that the visit was “a carefully planned provocation,” which disregarded another country’s sovereignty—a sentiment shared by Beijing which reacted to Pelosi’s visit by carrying out large-scale military exercises around the island.
Putin railed against the U.S.-led “unipolar world order” stating that its time has now come to an end and added that the only way to diffuse global tensions is by reinforcing “the modern multipolar world system.”
A day earlier at an arms expo near Moscow, Putin claimed Russia’s weapons were “significantly superior” than their western counterparts as he offered to sell them to allied nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Tangent
Western officials have raised concerns about Russia potentially using tactical nuclear weapons to escalate the conflict in Ukraine as its advance in eastern Ukraine grinds down to halt. Speaking at the conference Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia had no need to use nuclear weapons “to achieve the set goals” in Ukraine. He added that Russia’s nuclear weapons only exist to deter a potential nuclear attack against it. The annual Moscow International Security Conference is currently taking place in the Russian capital and is being attended by defense officials from 35 nations.
Key Background
Putin’s criticism of the U.S.—his most vocal in recent weeks—comes at a time Russia’s advance along Ukraine’s eastern flank has slowed down while Kyiv’s forces try to mount a counter attack in the south in an effort to recapture the key city of Kherson. Part of Ukraine’s success has been credited to the arrival of advanced long-range weapons systems from the West including the U.S.-made HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). Putin had previously warned the U.S. against supplying long range artillery and missile systems to Ukraine—something that the Biden administration has largely ignored. While approving the delivery of these weapons Biden said they would allow Ukraine to carry out precision strikes on battlefield targets.
Further Reading
With New Weaponry, Ukraine Is Subtly Shifting Its War Strategy (New York Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/08/16/putin-accuses-us-of-prolonging-ukraine-conflict-labels-pelosis-taiwan-visit-planned-provocation/