The battles
ISW: Putin's gun rant is mostly rhetorical
Vladimir Putin proves time and time again that his arms rattle and threats of escalation are mostly rhetoric, writes the ISW think tank in its daily situation report.
The Kremlin's latest threats have been about the West allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western weapons. However, Ukraine has already attacked occupied Crimea – which Russia illegally defines as Russian territory – with ATACMS and Storm Shadow robots since April 2023.
Putin has threatened revenge if the West provides Ukraine with one thing or another - rocket artillery, tanks, fighter jets, permission to use long-range weapons against Russian targets - and each time the lines have been moved forward, writes ISW.
"The Kremlin's application of its 'red line' rhetoric has been grossly disjointed, which overall undermines the Russian escalation narrative."
ISW: Putin's gun rant is mostly rhetorical
Vladimir Putin proves time and time again that his arms rattle and threats of escalation are mostly rhetoric, writes the ISW think tank in its daily situation report.
The Kremlin's latest threats have been about the West allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western weapons. However, Ukraine has already attacked occupied Crimea – which Russia illegally defines as Russian territory – with ATACMS and Storm Shadow robots since April 2023.
Putin has threatened revenge if the West provides Ukraine with one thing or another - rocket artillery, tanks, fighter jets, permission to use long-range weapons against Russian targets - and each time the lines have been moved forward, writes ISW.
"The Kremlin's application of its 'red line' rhetoric has been grossly disjointed, which overall undermines the Russian escalation narrative."
Russian reactions
Medvedev's turnaround: "Does not want nuclear war"
During the war, Russia's ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, vice chairman of the Security Council, has been one of the most hawkish voices in the Kremlin, making a series of colorful threats against the West.
In a new interview with the television channel Al Arabiya, he tones down his rhetoric significantly, and says that Russia does not want to start a nuclear war, writes the Moscow Times.
- We really don't want that to ever happen. There are no madmen in the Russian leadership, he says.
In the past, Medvedev has, among other things, declared World War III, threatened "the end of civilization" and nuclear attacks on Washington, Paris and London.
According to independent Verstka sources within the Kremlin, many of Medvedev's crudest Telegram posts were written under the influence of alcohol. Andrej Kelin, Russia's ambassador to Great Britain, has previously emphasized that Medvedev's statements do not reflect the Kremlin's position.
Medvedev's turnaround: "Does not want nuclear war"
During the war, Russia's ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, vice chairman of the Security Council, has been one of the most hawkish voices in the Kremlin, making a series of colorful threats against the West.
In a new interview with the television channel Al Arabiya, he tones down his rhetoric significantly, and says that Russia does not want to start a nuclear war, writes the Moscow Times.
- We really don't want that to ever happen. There are no madmen in the Russian leadership, he says.
In the past, Medvedev has, among other things, declared World War III, threatened "the end of civilization" and nuclear attacks on Washington, Paris and London.
According to independent Verstka sources within the Kremlin, many of Medvedev's crudest Telegram posts were written under the influence of alcohol. Andrej Kelin, Russia's ambassador to Great Britain, has previously emphasized that Medvedev's statements do not reflect the Kremlin's position.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar