Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the start of the conflict in Ukraine with a speech, in which he promised to escalate the conflict and announced the suspension of Russian involvement in the New START treaty. He also announced that Russia was ready to resume nuclear testing.
In his speech, Putin defends Russia’s actions in Ukraine, saying that they were necessary to protect Russian-speaking minorities in the country. He criticized the West for supporting the Ukrainian government and accused it of trying to isolate Russia.
Putin’s announcement that Russia would suspend its involvement in the New START treaty, which limits the number of nuclear weapons that Russia and the United States can have, has raised concerns about the potential for a new nuclear arms race. The treaty was meant as a safety net to prevent nuclear war, and without it, there is a higher risk of this escalating.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for almost two years, and Putin’s speech indicates that it is likely to continue. The conflict began when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and has since escalated into a full-blown war, with Russian-backed separatists fighting against Ukrainian government forces in the eastern part of the country.
The conflict has caused thousands of deaths and forced many Ukrainians to flee their homes. The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of providing military support to the separatists, a claim that Russia has denied.
The conflict has also strained Russia’s relations with the West, with the United States and the European Union imposing sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine.
Putin’s speech is likely to further escalate tensions between Russia and the West, and the situation in Ukraine remains volatile. It is unclear how the conflict will ultimately be resolved, but it is clear that it will continue to be a major source of instability in the region.