As of: March 18, 2024, 11:15 p.m
By: Paula Völkner
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Press
Split
Putin's victory in Russia's sham election comes as little surprise.
But the Kremlin boss also uses it to warn NATO.
Moscow – Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's mock presidential election was announced on Sunday (March 17).
An election that, according to critics, was only intended to legitimize Putin in the Kremlin pro forma.
The new and old Kremlin chief used the evening of the announcement of the election results to threaten the West.
A journalist from the
Reuters
news agency asked Putin about French President Macron's statement about the possible stationing of Western ground troops in Ukraine.
Putin warned of the consequences for the West and the world.
Putin's threats against the West: "I believe anything is possible in today's world"
If there were a direct conflict between Russia and NATO, the world would be “only one step away” from a third world war, Putin said, according to reports from
Deutschlandfunk
.
“I believe that anything is possible in today’s world,” the Kremlin chief responded to a question about the likelihood of a direct conflict between Russia and NATO,
Ukrainska Pravda
reported .
Russian President Vladimir Putin after the election on March 18 © NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / POOL / AFP
In February, French President Macron said at a Ukraine aid conference in Paris that, in his opinion, the use of ground troops in Ukraine should not be ruled out.
“We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war,” Macron said.
However, there was no agreement among the heads of government on this issue.
After the meeting in Paris, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico warned of a “dangerous escalation of tensions” with Russia.
Putin's threats against the West are nothing new.
Putin recently spoke again about the use of a nuclear bomb on Russian state television and in his state of the nation speech.
In this context, too, Putin warned NATO states not to send troops to Ukraine.
The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO has also recently been a reason for Putin's threats.
In an interview with Russian state news agency
Ria Novosti
and state television
Rossiya-1
, he said he wanted to send troops to the Finnish border.
Putin's message to Russia: "Then nothing and no one can intimidate and oppress us"
Putin was confirmed for his fifth term in office in the weekend's election.
This is expected to last until 2030.
Russia's rulers also used the speech on the evening after the election to send messages to the Russian people and invoke unity in Russia.
“There are big tasks ahead of us.
But if we stand together, I think everyone has understood that, then nothing and no one can intimidate and oppress us," Putin said
in his speech on election evening, according to reports from
ARD 's "Tagesschau".
(pav)