Putin's threats backfire, allies urged to resist – Ukrainian foreign minister
Photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s threats are ineffective. Ukraine’s allies should not yield to them, states Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X.
“Putin’s threats are ineffective. Ukraine’s allies should not succumb to them. In the spring of 2022, he warned of unprecedented consequences if the West provided Ukraine with defensive weapons. The weapons were provided, and Putin did nothing. This rhetoric has been repeated many times over the past years,” stated the Foreign Minister.
Sybiha reminded that Putin had threatened consequences over NATO expansion when Finland and Sweden joined the Alliance and when Ukraine received F-16 fighter jets. Yet, the dictator was unable to act on these threats.
“Every time Putin faces force, he retreats and finds ways to explain it to his people,” noted the minister.
According to the Foreign Minister, in response to Putin’s threats, allies should increase support for Ukraine, lift restrictions on weapon use, and strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, economic, and energy resilience.
“Fear and hesitation lead to death and crisis. To restore peace, courage is needed, not fear,” added Sybiha.
Putin’s threats
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin commented on the potential lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons against Russian territory, suggesting that such a decision could drag NATO into Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In response to Putin’s threats, Britain and the White House reminded that Russia started the war.
Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office, stated that Putin’s intimidation reflects Russian fear. He urged allies not to restrict Ukraine’s use of weapons.
