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Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West that the situation in Ukraine could deteriorate further. The West is playing a “dangerous, bloody and dirty” game, Putin said during a nearly four-hour appearance at a discussion event in Moscow on Thursday.

“We are at a historic threshold: before us lies what is probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and at the same time most important decade since the end of World War II.” Sooner or later, however, the West will have to talk to Russia about a common future. Russia is ready for a dialogue with Ukraine to end the conflict, but Kiev does not want to sit at the negotiating table. The problem can be solved easily, Putin said: The United States should urge Ukraine to hold peace talks.

The Kremlin wants to give the impression that Ukraine and the US are against peace. That is not true. Only he started the war of aggression in Ukraine, only he could end the conflict tomorrow by withdrawing Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. So far, no ceasefire offer has come from Moscow that Kiev has been able to accept. One thing is especially clear from Putin’s comments: Russia’s offer to talk is poisoned, because it is intended to divide the West and not bring peace.

Putin again took the opportunity in Moscow to spread his well-known war lies. He misjudged the attack on Ukraine and now appears to be trying to falsify history. That becomes clear time and again during his performance in Moscow.

Putin caused escalation

Even the US doesn’t assume that Russia is really willing to talk. A US government spokesman said Putin’s statements contained little news and did not indicate that the country had changed its strategic goals.

The recent developments were inevitable, Putin said. He constantly thinks about the losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine; but Russia has strengthened its sovereignty and the economy has held up better than expected. There is nothing this year that he looks back on with disappointment. Tens of thousands of people have died, including numerous Russian soldiers, in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine that has been going on since February. The West has imposed severe sanctions on the country over Russia’s actions.

One thing is clear: the Kremlin chief is constantly building on the story that the West has forced the fighting in Ukraine on Russia. That is not true, because, for example, NATO never intended to include Ukraine in the military alliance. Moreover, it was the Kremlin that backed the separatists in Donbass in 2014, annexed Crimea and laid the foundations for the current tensions. Putin did not want to allow Ukraine – which he says has no historical right to exist as a state – to turn to the West.

Russian energy war

Many European countries, on the other hand, are struggling with the sharp increase in energy costs, as hardly any Russian gas flows into Europe. A Nord Stream 2 tube still works, Putin said. But Europe doesn’t want to use them. Russia is not responsible for the crisis in Europe, but the heads of state and government of the European countries. Russia is also not the enemy of Europe and has never had any evil intentions against Europe.

That too is a lie. After all, Putin has started a war in Europe. It is Russia that is trying to use force to push borders. This caused an energy crisis and cost many people prosperity, both in Russia and in the rest of Europe. But only one person is responsible for this: and that is Vladimir Putin.

According to Putin, the debate about nuclear weapons has intensified. This is thanks to ex-British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who said her country was ready to use nuclear weapons if circumstances warranted it. Russia has never discussed the use of nuclear weapons. In fact, however, Putin and other high-ranking politicians had spoken out about it. For example, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev declared at the end of September that Russia had the right to use nuclear weapons “if necessary”. This is “certainly not a bluff”. Putin said on Thursday that Russia has a military doctrine that also provides for the use of nuclear weapons. However, this is for defensive purposes only.

“Dirty bomb”: accusations against Kiev

Regarding Russia’s accusation that Ukraine plans to use a “dirty bomb”, Putin reiterated that Kiev has the technology to build such a bomb. He therefore asked his defense minister to inform the West about the risk of such a bomb. A “dirty bomb” is an explosive mixed with radioactive material, which can cause serious destruction, but is not comparable in strength to an atomic bomb.

There is no evidence that Ukraine would contaminate its own people and territory. Militarily it also makes no sense, after all, the Ukrainian army is gaining ground. There is growing concern in the West that the Kremlin may consider using a “dirty bomb” or even a tactical nuclear weapon in light of Ukraine’s counter-offensive.

Putin reiterated previous statements that Russia was trying to build friendly relations with the West and NATO. However, negative responses were received. The West is trying to make Russia vulnerable and impose sanctions on anyone who will not bow to it. In doing so, Russia is not challenging the West, but wants to retain the right to its own development.

Warm words for China and Turkey

However, the West has only imposed sanctions on Moscow because Russia has been stealing land from Ukrainian territory since 2014. These have nothing to do with the repression of the Russian Federation, but are the result of Putin’s aggression. After all, many Western countries have built close economic ties with Russia, have become heavily dependent on Russian raw materials and have ignored many warning signs of this war. Putin destroyed friendly relations.

The Russian president also put a positive emphasis on NATO member Turkey and China. Turkey is a reliable partner and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a strong leader. Both countries have many common interests. Russia’s relations with China are very open and effective. Trade between the two countries is increasing. Putin calls Chinese President Xi Jinping a friend. India’s role in international relations will also grow. In addition, respect should be paid to the Saudi crown prince, who was recently criticized by the US.

That is why Putin especially emphasizes those states that do not denounce the Russian war of aggression on the international stage out of self-interest. Turkey and India act neutrally, mainly out of economic interests, while China, like Putin, strives for a multipolar world and finds itself in geopolitical conflict with the US. Putin knows that his war of aggression in Ukraine has made him dependent on the People’s Republic, because the Russian president also knows one thing: his government no longer has many friends and strategic partners internationally.

With material from Reuters news agency