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Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will carry out “lightning-fast” counterattacks against all countries that intervene in its invasion of Ukraine in its latest nuclear threat to the West.
The Russian leader made the threat in an address to the Council of Legislators in St. Petersburg.
Speaking to lawmakers, he warned: “If anyone intends to intervene in what is happening from the outside, he should know that this is an unacceptable strategic threat to Russia.
“They need to know that our response to the counterattacks will be lightning fast. Fast.
“We have all the weapons we need for this. No one else can boast of these weapons, and we will not boast of them. But we will use them. “
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The threat comes amid claims that Russian troops “do not like to fight in the rain” and this has delayed attempts to seize more territory in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, Western officials said on Wednesday.
They stressed that the Russian president’s forces were making “small profits” as they sought to advance.
“But when confronted with real military goals, it is difficult for them to overcome the strong Ukrainian resistance and suffer losses,” said one official.
“The current weather conditions in Donbass with heavy rain are not helping. The Russians do not like to fight in the rain and this slows down progress.
“What we see … They are not advancing in heavy rain.”
Putin is believed to be trying to snatch some form of victory in Donbass before May 9th.
The day is a key date in the Russian military calendar, as it marks the capitulation of the Nazis during World War II, and an annual parade is held on Red Square in Moscow.
However, defense experts say Putin’s expected rush to victory risks sending thousands of Russian troops to their deaths.
Earlier on Wednesday, British lawmakers bore sanctions as a “sign of honor” after Moscow banned nearly 300 from entering Russia in retaliation for the UK’s response to the Ukrainian invasion.
Russia’s foreign ministry has said it is taking action against 287 members of the House of Commons in response to sanctions against Russian politicians, although there are many former lawmakers on its list.
A statement accused conservatives and Labor of “breaking Russophobic hysteria”.
This comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday condemned Russia’s decision to cut gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria as “blackmail”.
Russia’s energy giant Gazprom has said it is suspending supplies to the two Eastern European countries after they refused to pay for supplies in rubles.
Polish gas company PGNiG confirmed on Wednesday morning that Gazprom had already closed its taps, adding that the company’s customers were still receiving fuel according to their needs. It is unclear whether supplies to Bulgaria have been suspended.
Gas prices in Europe rose 20% on Wednesday morning as the euro fell to a five-year low against the dollar as markets reacted to the news.
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