Vladimir Putin warned today that Moscow’s adversaries understood how any attack on Russia using ‘a nuclear element’ could end.
The dictator made the chilling threat on the fourth anniversary of his forces invading Ukraine as he spoke to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s main security agency.
Earlier, the Russian despot’s spy agency accused Britain and France of secretly plotting to give Ukraine nuclear weapons.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleged London and Paris were engaged in a clandestine operation to arm Kyiv with more muscle against Moscow by supplying it with a ‘wonder weapon’.
‘Britain and France realise that the developments in Ukraine leave no chance of achieving their much-desired victory over Russia at the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,’ said a statement today from the spy agency.
‘However, the British and French elites are not prepared to accept defeat. It is believed that Ukraine needs to be equipped with “wunderwaffe”.
‘Kyiv would be able to claim more favourable terms for ending the hostilities if it possessed a nuclear bomb, or at least a so-called “dirty bomb”.’
The Kremlin’s accusations were made as Western sources claimed Russia is losing troops faster than it can replace them – with 40,000 casualties a month compared to 35,000 recruitments.
Over the last four years, Putin’s forces have seen 1.25 million of its soldiers killed or injured on the front lines – more than the total sustained by the US during the whole of WW2.
Russia has lost an estimated 157,841 soldiers, while Ukraine is believed to have lost 81,721.
Russian frustrations are a possible motivation for their intelligence service’s unfounded accusations about supplying Kyiv with nuclear weapons.
The SVR alleged today: ‘London and Paris are actively working to resolve the issue of providing Kyiv with such weapons and their delivery systems.
‘This involves the covert transfer of European components, equipment, and technology to Ukraine in this area. The French TN75 small-size warhead from the M51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile is being considered as an option.’
The allegation for which the SVR gave no evidence is likely Moscow’s latest bid to thwart a peace process overseen by Donald Trump.
‘The British and French recognise that their plans constitute a gross violation of international law, primarily the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and carry the risk of destroying the global non-proliferation system.
‘Therefore, the Westerners’ primary efforts are focused on making Kyiv’s acquisition of nuclear weapons appear to be the result of Ukrainian development.
‘Such extremely dangerous plans by London and Paris demonstrate their loss of a sense of reality. They are futilely hoping to avoid responsibility.
‘Moreover, all that is hidden will inevitably be revealed.
‘There are many sensible people in the military, political, and diplomatic circles of Great Britain and France who understand the danger their leaders’ reckless actions pose to the entire world.’
Meanwhile, leaders of the G7 global powers, including US President Donald Trump, reaffirmed their ‘unwavering support for Ukraine’.
It marks the first joint declaration by G7 leaders on Ukraine since Trump’s return to the White House a year ago, noted France, which holds the G7 presidency this year.
‘We express our continued support for President Trump’s efforts to achieve these objectives by initiating a peace process and bringing the parties to direct discussions. Europe has a leading role to play in this process, joined by other partners,’ the leaders of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan said.
They also noted their support for the so-called Coalition of the Willing which has offered security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, adding ‘that only Ukraine and Russia, working together in good faith negotiations, can reach a peace agreement’.
Moscow had hoped to take Kyiv in days when it launched its invasion on February 24, 2022.
Instead, four years later, hundreds of thousands have been killed, millions forced to flee and much of eastern Ukraine has been destroyed.
In the midst of another winter of combat, the G7 said it has provided financial support along with ‘critical equipment’ in recent weeks such as generators and turbines to aid the country’s energy supplies.
Since January, ‘more than half a billion euros of new pledges were made to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to purchase equipment to repair and protect the Ukrainian energy system’, the statement said.
The United States has been pushing to end the conflict, mediating talks between the two sides this year in Geneva and Abu Dhabi, but they remain at odds over the issue of territory.
