Tensions in Russia spark fears of new war as Vladimir Putin threatens to ‘destroy’ opponents
Vladimir Putin has threatened to “simply destroy” any country that encroaches on his country’s territory as fears of a new war explodes.
Russia has issued a chilling warning to the rest of the world, claiming tensions with the West have almost reached “boiling point” as the threat of a new war explodes.
In recent days, a migrant crisis along the Poland-Belarus border has caught the world’s attention, sparking claims the situation was orchestrated by Moscow.
And at the same time, there are growing fears that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine, after deploying 100,000 troops to the border, with US warships and spy planes recently spotted in the Black Sea as tensions mount.
In a sign of how dire the unfolding crisis has become, pro-Kremlin TV stations have increasingly been warning of a potential war ahead.
NTV presenter Irada Zeynalova accused the West of “exacerbating the situation”, which was now “almost at boiling point both in the air and the sea”.
“It is already dangerous,” she said, citing a “very alarming” military situation with NATO countries mobilising troops ahead of a potential showdown.
Meanwhile, fellow TV presenter and so-called Putin “mouthpiece”, Dmitry Kiselyov, echoed that sentiment, claiming NATO ships and planes, including the USS Mount Whitney and USS Porter, which recently arrived in the Black Sea, were “clearly trying to feel out the weak points in our defence”.
He said NATO was “acting more aggressively than ever” and demonstrating a “resolve to engage in some nastiness”, and warned that a “confident and clod-blooded” Russian President Vladimir Putin was “ready to simply destroy” countries that engaged in any “brazen violation” of its border.
Migrant crisis
Last week, news broke of an unfolding migrant crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, with migrants and refugees, primarily from Africa and the Middle East, attempting to cross over into Poland.
Belarus has been accused of “weaponising migration” in retaliation against EU sanctions imposed in response to President Alexander Lukashenko’s dictatorship, with claims emerging that the migrants were encouraged by Belarus to illegally enter Poland.
Hundreds of migrants have descended upon the border, with some dying due to the harsh conditions, including subzero temperatures.
Last week, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland’s Twitter account shared footage of the crisis, posting: “We are dealing with organised destruction of border fortifications. There are also direct attacks on Polish Border Guards officers, police and soldiers”.
Poland also warned that thousands more migrants were on their way – and that future attempts could be “armed in nature”.
Since then, other European nations, including the UK, have come to Poland’s aid, with General Sir Nick Carter – the Chief of the Defence Staff – telling the BBC Britain “stands behind Poland”.
“This is a classic case of the sort of hybrid playbook where you link disinformation to destabilisation,” he said.
“The idea of pushing migrants onto the European Union’s borders is a classic example of that sort of thing.”
He said he was concerned the migrant crisis could escalate into something more serious, after Mr Lukashenko requested nuclear-capable missiles from Russia.
France’s explosive vow
Meanwhile, the migrant crisis coincides with signs Russia is plotting an invasion of Ukraine, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to make the explosive claim that France was ready to defend Ukraine’s “territorial integrity”.
#BREAKING Macron tells Putin France is ready to defend Ukraine's 'territorial integrity' pic.twitter.com/3AsJGcuUNx
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 15, 2021
In a lengthy phone call with his Russian counterpart, Mr Macron expressed “our deep concern and our willingness to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” according to the French president’s office.
His comments come hot on the heels of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s warning last week that it would be a “serious mistake for Russia to engage in a repeat of what it did in 2014”. Back in April, he threatened Russia would face “consequences” if it behaved “aggressively” towards Ukraine.
Ukraine has alleged that Russian troops and equipment have remained at the border since Russia held war games in the area earlier in 2021.
Tensions between the two have remained high ever since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, with experts interpreting the latest developments as a sign of fresh problems to come.
“If you look at the two things together, trouble up northwest and around Ukraine, it is a classic example of perhaps a bit of distraction going on,” Sir Nick told the BBC this week.
But so far, the response from NATO has been more measured, with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urging Russia to be more transparent.
“NATO is closely monitoring the large and unusual concentrations of Russian forces close to Ukraine’s borders,” Mr Stoltenberg tweeted this week.
“We call on Russia to be transparent, prevent escalation and reduce tensions.”
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