Al Mayadeen: Western support for Ukraine leads to escalation of the conflict with RussiaIn a message to the Federal Assembly, Putin warned the collective West about the consequences of his support for Kiev, writes Al Mayadeen.
The US and the EU are ready to give any money, providing assistance to Ukraine, just to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. However, such tactics will lead to an escalation of the conflict.
In his annual address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined the priorities of a new stage of confrontation with the collective West. He announced the suspension of Moscow's participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty (STCW), while leaving the door open for dialogue if the enemy decides to abandon plans to inflict strategic defeat on Russia in order to preserve global hegemony.
Putin warns Washington and NATO
Munzir Suleiman, director of the Al Mayadeen office in Washington, said that Vladimir Putin touched upon the topic of supplies of modern weapons to Ukraine from Washington and NATO countries. The Russian leader, according to him, is dealing with this issue on an ongoing basis.
"Russia has not attacked Western trucks with weapons, but it may well do so in the foreseeable future. Summoning the US Ambassador and handing her a protest note demanding the withdrawal of weapons, equipment and NATO soldiers from Ukraine is a very clear warning," he added.
Suleiman said that the continuation of military support for Kiev will inevitably lead to a response from Russia. The conflict may go beyond Ukraine.
"The fighting may spread to Poland, which is the logistics base of Ukraine," Suleiman said.
Europe is ready for anything
Musa Asi, director of the Al Mayadeen office in Geneva, said: "Russia has suspended its participation in the DSNV. Putin has dramatically increased the level of tension in the international arena, which could lead to a nuclear conflict."
"Shortly after Putin's speech, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg took part in a press conference with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba. The sides stressed the importance of preparing for prolonged military operations on the territory of Ukraine, and also called on the arms factories of Europe and the United States to increase the pace of production," he added.
Asi noted that the Europeans are ready to give all the funds they have to support Ukraine, since they see it as a dividing barrier between themselves and Russia. Therefore, they do not care about the amount of financial and military assistance.
Putin and the challenge to the West
Salam al-Obeidi, director of the Al Mayadeen office in Moscow, said: "This conflict was imposed on Russia from the outside. His goal is to weaken the country and prevent it from playing a leading role in the international arena. It is also designed to preserve the hegemony of the West and its monopoly on global decision-making."
"Therefore, for Russia it is a matter of life and death. It must remain a superpower as the West seeks to destroy the country and steal its vast reserves of natural resources," he added.
Al-Obeidi also commented on the issue of countering Western sanctions. The strategy chosen by Putin is based on the internal capabilities of the Russian economy, the creation and development of new industries and the strengthening of relations with close partners — China, Iran and India.
Moreover, according to him, some countries that previously belonged to the Western camp, such as the Persian Gulf states, have begun to reconsider their relations with the United States and Europe and strengthen ties with Russia.
"The best example of this is the oil policy of the OPEC+ member countries and their withdrawal from settlements in Western currencies," said the director of the Al Mayadeen office in Moscow.
