Putin: Russia’s response to Western threats will not be limited to armored vehicles

Russia is again threatened by German tanks with crosses on board, but the West does not realize that in the event of a military confrontation with Russia, the use of armored vehicles alone will not end. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared during a performance at a concert dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad.

“We are again and again forced to repulse the aggression of the collective West. Unbelievable, but true: we are again threatened by German Leopard tanks with crosses on board. And again they are going to fight against Russia on the soil of Ukraine with the hands of the last of Hitler, with the hands of Bandera, ”he said.

According to the head of state, those who draw European countries, including Germany, into a military confrontation with Russia, and declare this as a fait accompli, do not understand that “a modern war with Russia will be completely different for them.”

“We do not send our tanks to their borders, but we have something to answer with. And the use of armored vehicles will not end,” Putin added.

Last week, Germany and the United States announced the supply of tanks to Kyiv: Germany will send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the United States – 31 Abrams. In addition, Berlin will also allow the allies to send their Leopard 2 to Ukraine.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius specified that the first German military equipment would arrive in Ukraine in late March or early April. Poland, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands also announced plans to transfer tanks to Kyiv. In addition, Great Britain is going to send its Challenger 2 to Ukraine.

On the eve of February 1, Reuters reported that the United States plans to provide Ukraine with a new $2.2 billion military aid package, which will also include missiles with a range of 150 km.

Against the backdrop of statements about the transfer of new weapons to Kyiv, the Kremlin pointed to gain the direct involvement of Western countries in the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the fact that Western armored vehicles will not change the course of the conflict.

Earlier, White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said that the United States do not neglect warnings from the Russian side about the inadmissibility of crossing the “red lines” against the background of the transfer of weapons to Ukraine. At the same time, as previously reported, a high-ranking representative of the US administration expressed the hope that the supply of weapons allow Kyiv to seize the lost territories, including the Crimea. “We want to make sure that they have the right capacity not only to defend against Russia, but also the ability to take back sovereign territory. Crimea is Ukraine,” he said.