NUCLEAR FALLOUT
Putin threatens to strike over any ‘interference’ from other countries
TYRANT Vladimir Putin last night threatened to unleash nuclear terror on countries that “interfere” with Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Russian leader issued his latest nuke alert after Western nations vowed to bolster military support for Kyiv.
Speaking in St Petersburg, Putin fumed: “If someone intends to interfere in what is going on from the outside they must know that constitutes an unacceptable strategic threat to Russia.
“They must know that our response to counter strikes will be lightning fast.”
A Russian TV presenter called for a nuclear strike to wipe out Britain. Vladimir Solovyov, dubbed “Putin’s propagandist”, issued the doomsday warning as he spoke to Russia’s space agency boss about its Sarmat 2 missile. Codenamed Satan 2 in the West, it is due to enter service this year.
The Kremlin says it is unstoppable and Solovyov warned: “As it turned out, one Sarmat means minus one Great Britain.”
The rhetoric from Moscow towards London came after Deputy PM Dominic Raab accused Russia of issuing “unlawful” threats to the UK.
The Government has backed Ukrainian strikes on targets on Russian soil as “completely legitimate”. But the Kremlin accused the UK of goading Ukraine into attacks and warned of retaliation.
According to the
Our response to counter strikes will be lightning fast VLADIMIR PUTIN ON KYIV SUPPORT FROM THE WEST
Interfax news agency, the Russian defence ministry said: “We would like to stress the direct provoking by London of the Kyiv regime into such activities, should there be an attempt to realise them will immediately lead to our proportional response.” A statement added that Russian forces were primed to “deliver retaliatory strikes using long-range, highaccuracy, weaponry” against “centres taking relevant decisions” in Kyiv. Raab then said: “The
Russian statement is unlawful and what we’re doing is lawful. We’re entitled – all states are entitled – to provide military support to any state exercising the right of lawful defence against an aggressive invasion.”
Western officials backed Raab’s claim. One said: “There is a Russian narrative that this is a proxy war between Russia and NATO – it isn’t.”
No10 would not rule out training Ukrainian fighter pilots or sending RAF fast jets to “backfill” aircraft for allies that supply warplanes to Kyiv. The PM’s spokesman said: “While there are no plans to send things like planes from the UK, certainly we want to work with other countries to ensure Ukraine has the equipment that it needs.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss last night warned China to look at how world leaders stood firm against Russia. Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow over the war and Truss said NATO should help Taiwan defend itself against Chinese invasion threats.
She said: “We have shown with Russia the kind of choices we’re prepared to make when international rules are violated.”