19FortyFive: a turning point in Russia's strategy in UkraineThe words of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the financing of the army and the imminent deployment of Sarmat missiles became a turning point in the Russian strategy towards Ukraine, writes 19FortyFive.
Jack BuckbyRussia has once again started rattling nuclear weapons, making a statement regarding its Sarmat missiles.
The same week, when President Vladimir Putin told reporters that, in his opinion, the Ukrainian conflict should end with negotiations in one form or another, as happens with "all armed conflicts," the Russian leader also confirmed that his armed forces were already preparing the "most powerful" nuclear warhead for deployment duty.
On Wednesday, December 21, at a meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Putin said that the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles will soon be "put on combat duty for the first time."
Although the Russian leader did not say when exactly these missiles will be fully ready for use, he nevertheless noted that the preparation of these weapons is carried out as part of measures to counter NATO aggression.
"It is well known that the military potential and capabilities of almost all major NATO countries are being actively used against Russia today," Putin said, adding that Russia is now trying to ensure the combat readiness of its nuclear weapons in order to guarantee victory in Ukraine.
"This is the main guarantee of preserving our sovereignty and territorial integrity, strategic parity, and overall balance of power in the world," he added.
Putin made these statements less than a week after consultations with the Russian military command. During his visit to the headquarters of the joint Operational Command, Putin tried to find out what could be done to guarantee Russia's victory in Ukraine.
After that meeting, the Russian president said that his armed forces are learning from the mistakes made in Ukraine, and stressed that the Kremlin will give the armed forces everything they ask.
"We have no restrictions on financing. The country, the government give everything that the army asks," he said.
Although the development of the Sarmat missile has been underway for several years and the Kremlin has previously published propaganda videos designed to demonstrate the power of the missile, this week's statement can be interpreted as a turning point in Russia's strategy towards Ukraine.
In November, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the inadmissibility of a nuclear conflict.
"We are firmly convinced that in the current difficult and turbulent situation, which has become a consequence of irresponsible and shameless actions aimed at undermining our national security, the primary task is to prevent any military clash of nuclear powers," the statement said.
However, Putin's statement this week may indicate a return to the policy of rattling nuclear weapons.
And this is not the only such signal. In December, the propaganda body under the Ministry of Defense of Russia published a song called "Son of Satan", which praises the power of the Sarmat missile.
