In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, Sept. 21, Russian president, Vladimir Putin, issued a stern warning to Western leaders over the war in Ukraine. This came at a time world leaders gathered for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to him, he will not hesitate to put to use his country’s nuclear weapons to defend Russia and its 144.7 million people, against the West which he accused of wanting to destroy Russia.
“If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will without doubt use all available means to protect Russia and our people – this is not a bluff,” Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying in the televised address.
🧵 The main points from Putin’s address to the nation:
🔹Russia will support the decision of the inhabitants in referendums in the Donbass and in the liberated territories. pic.twitter.com/8SELtqShF8
— Fedya 🇷🇺🇨🇳 (@Dostojewski1821) September 21, 2022
“In its aggressive anti-Russian policy, the West has crossed every line,” Putin said. “This is not a bluff. And those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the weathervane can turn and point towards them,” he added furiously.
Also in his address, Putin announced that his country will undertake a partial mobilization of its forces. This, many believe, will change the war into a more severe and bloody one. If done, this mobilization will be Russia’s first since the end of World War II.
The Russian leader also talked about plans to annex Ukrainian regions that have been captured and currently being administered by pro-Russia officials.
Meanwhile, Putin’s nuclear threat sparked reactions and condemnations from across the world. Many are blaming him for trying to kick-start a third world war with his constant nuclear threats and his determination to annex the occupied Ukrainian regions.
Former US Ambassador to Russia, Prof. Michael McFaul, in a tweet suggested that Putin nuclear threat is real as his propagandists keep talking about launching nuclear strikes on some of its Slavic neighbors.
“Before invading, Putin and his propagandists claimed that Ukrainians were just Russian with accents and would soon be reunited with their kin from the east. Today, Putins propagandists openly talk about nuking their Slavic brothers and sisters…,” McFaul tweeted.
American gay right activist, Andrew Wortman, in reaction to Putin’s threat, described him as a “geopolitical terrorist” who is suffering massive defeats in his invasion of Ukraine.
In a tweet, Wortman wrote: “Putin is threatening nuclear war because he’s an impotent geopolitical terrorist who is being defeated on every front by a country…”
Below are some reactions to Putin’s nuclear threat
Putin announces ‘partial mobilisation’,threatening nuclear retaliation: ‘I’m not bluffing’
His speech "Do you want total war?" will go down in history as either the beginning of his end,or the beginning of the world's end
We must unite to stop this madman-if only for our own sake pic.twitter.com/mOQFTOcGv6— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) September 21, 2022
Putin: I consider occupied areas of Ukraine to be Russia and any attempt to reclaim them will trigger a nuclear response. If this principle is allowed to stand, what’s to stop him announcing that he considers Warsaw or Riga or Berlin to be Russia?
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) September 21, 2022
Putin is threatening nuclear war because he’s an impotent geopolitical terrorist who is being defeated on every front by a country all he had to do was not invade to prevent the war he’s currently blaming on “the West.” Ukraine will defeat Russia. And Putin’s reign will end.
— Andrew Wortman (@AmoneyResists) September 21, 2022
So Putin is mobilizing conscripts and threatening nuclear war. We can at least be thankful that Trump isn't in power.
— Tim McNamara (@timClicks) September 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/lavern_spicer/status/1572519254616084481
Vladimir Putin is bluffing. His Chinese and Indian riders don't want nuclear escalation. He's such a fragile monster he dare not call for a nationwide draft.
His time is running out. https://t.co/4SwhmBcsfT
— John Sweeney (@johnsweeneyroar) September 21, 2022
the western leaders were saying that Putin using nukes would precipitate a response, he then has gone on to threaten to use nuclear weapons, it’s all a bit unhinged
— ChiswickFox (@ChiswickFox) September 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/_stefanadrian/status/1572469895136411648
Good of Vladimir Putin to wait till after the queen's funeral to threaten global nuclear war. It's called respect.
— Philip Proudfoot (@PhilipProudfoot) September 21, 2022
In Putin’s new military mobilization, nuclear threats, and annexation efforts he’s highlighting his desperation amid Ukraine’s recent gains. His war is failing.
Biden’s #UNGA speech today just became significantly more important.
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) September 21, 2022
Why are government not taking Putin threat to launch a nuclear war against NATO seriously ? Why do we still allow Russian dirty money in London? Why do we allow Russian elite to educate their children at expensive private schools in our country? When will the appeasement stop?
— Mike Gapes ⚒🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@MikeGapes) September 21, 2022
Source: NBA Republic