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Putin vows quick, tough response if West encroaches on Russia's security interests

43 Comments
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

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43 Comments

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I think Russia is just going to do whatever it wants to do

But, yes, Biden will impose some sanctions. Deja vu

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Russia is as much of a threat to the US as China. Good thing the US now has a president willing to stand up to both countries instead of capitulating to and appeasing them like the previous president.

Amen

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

The little dictator has spoken. I say bring it buddy.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

A little man in a failing company makes empty threats. Someone call a WHAM-bulance!

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

There are no codes, no myths, no prevarications but just direct shot of pent-up frustrations to his tormentors.

This man, Putin, has had it, and is now ready to put it all on the line. Will the eagle dare ?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Ya gonna poison America?

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

You'll have to excuse Putin. He's trying to adjust to working with an American President who doesn't praise him, turn on his own country's intelligence services, or order his translator to destroy meeting notes.

It will take a bit of time.

1 ( +13 / -12 )

Russia is a very large country with a very small economy, relative to its size. Its GDP is less than Italy's, and on a par with South Korea's, a country with 36% of the population of Russia. So, Russia cannot afford to maintain its former status as a world leader. It cannot afford its space program, and it cannot afford a first-rate armed force. Russia can briefly overrun a smaller neighbor, but then it will be unable to maintain its armed forces. No money, no power.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Putin knows biden is no threat to him whatsoever. He is totally enboldened since the great President Trump is lamentedly no longer our President.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

@SuperLib

Perfectly said

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

And this is happening in my Europe.

NATO will for sure use countermeasures but also I don’t think at the state of the world the U.S. and it’s partners can afford a major conflict so as Russia.

This is a time where common sense and humanity is required.

But then we have people like Putin and his Chinese counterpart playing a dangerous game putting at risk the stability of the whole planet.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I like the Russian people but I despise Putin.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Russia is a very large country with a very small economy, relative to its size.

Kind of like a fat man with small "hands"

Anyone remember the song by 20 Fingers from the 90s? Eeny Weeny Teeny Weeny Shrivilled Little Short Short man.. Someone should play that when Putin threatens the West

The man has a Napoleon complex. He needs to threaten the west to compensate for his small stature. This poodle will soon bring his country to ruin.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Russia is as much of a threat to the US as China. Good thing the US now has a president willing to stand up to both countries instead of capitulating to and appeasing them like the previous president.

I disagree, the Russia of today is not like the former Soviet Union, doesn’t even have the economy or military structure with the exception of its nukes to reliably start a war with the US. From 1989 to 1998, Russian output dropped 45%, as the economic reforms following the Soviet collapse in 1991 took effect. By 2000, the nation's GDP was between 30% and 50% of its pre-collapse output. In 2017, gas made up 59% of Russia's exports and 25% of its total revenue, according to the World Bank. Now that doesn’t mean that the Russians aren’t a problem, they are dangerous in other ways of espionage, hacking, spreading political disinformation, interfering and meddling in our political system.

Communist China on the other hand is a serious cancerous threat to the US, from stealing our intellectual property, using its economic power to damage and undermine our economy, using the left to use woke culture and racism to push and advance their political agenda, they worked their way into our social media, msm, sports, TV, music, committing genocide on their own religious Muslim population, thinking that international waters belongs to them, hacking into the Pentagon and using hackers to cause serious security threats to the US, China is building their military and using close to 18% of its GDP to achieve this and Biden on the other hand wants to cut our military budget. This makes the Chinese and the Russians to lesser extent ecstatic.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

Bass- best post I've read from you yet!

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

bass4funk though I share your preoccupations in this case I partially disagree with you.

Yes The Russian federation is the shadow of the former Soviet Union and it’s confederation of states,it doesn’t have the might of it’s past but it is still a formidable force that can’t be taken without preoccupation.

In a wargame Russia alone will always lose with the combined forced of Nato,but in such a scenario Russia can still hurt badly many nations,and has a capacity to inflict heavy damages to it’s neighborhoods.

If Russia wasn’t still that fearful then why we as the west allowed what happened in Georgia and in Ukraine?

Simply because we knew that a military conflict with them would bring a huge and major crisis.

And keep in mind that these situations came before the times of Trump with administrations way more rigid against Putin’s dictatorship.

Also is the west capable to afford a total war with a country as large as Russia?

Napoleon first and Hitler then both tried a full scale invasion,and in both times they were outnumbered and with less power but still the vaste territory and it’s extreme climate played a great advantage for them.

We as the west weren’t even capable to conclude a full victorious campaign in Iraq and Afganistan with a much smaller territory to control and an with less firepower than ours.

Do you think we can really invade them and conquer them?

I highly doubt so.

In the end Russia doesn’t have the power to win agains Nato and our forces but we don’t have the resources to keep a major conflict with them as well.

Both sides know this.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Russia is as much of a threat to the US as China. Good thing the US now has a president willing to stand up to both countries

Focus on the rising China. Two front battles are exhausting to the US.

Real Russia is not so formidable as imagined. Its population size is as almost the same as Japan's (also same as declining). its GDP is as the same as South Korea's, and Russia is more dependent on less innovative energy resources. Though its landmass is the biggest of the world, over-stretching is the also a big debt in terms of economy as well as security.

Russia will continue to stay as a major regional power, but won't be able to become a super-power as the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

An interesting perspective. Remember the annual press conference that Putin gives in December? I found the on-line transcript again. In regards to international relations, especially to those in the West, Putin said five times that Russia is peaceful and good. And several times, he left open the question, of which country is aggressive and which was is "peaceful and good." He also said that "Russia is certainly very good mannered and polite, and we want to work towards diplomatic resolution of conflicts," and "Now, saying that Russia is all good, and there’s nothing that we are to blame for."

Compared with Wednesday's speech? That what is happening today is not their fault; they are good and peaceful and merely responding to "boorish" behavior; it the fault of "culprits." Self-critique has never been and important tool in their domestic relations toolbox.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Putin talks big when he knows he's in serious trouble - the former KGB Agent just doing his typical disinformation pitch.

Domestically the Russian people know their lives haven't improved over Putin's 20 year reign, all the while he and his oligarch cronies siphon off money and live an ultra-luxury lifestyle that makes Trump jealous.

His massing of troops on Ukraine's border is just another attempt to incite nationalism and deflect from his domestic troubles.

I do have to give him credit though - he has co-opted the far-right in the US - manipulating them with his disinformation campaign into believing that he is somehow not a threat, but someone to be admired.

He is on record as saying that he wants to destroy the US and the West who he blames for the humiliation of the Soviet Union dissolution. The insurrection on Jan 6th was one part of this effort.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Poison much?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

We should soon learn about where things are headed with Russia by looking at Ukraine. Russia is amassing troops and hardware on the border and isolated skirmishes are starting. My guess is that Russia will do something that provokes a response from Kiev, then from there the propaganda machine will take over and all of those troops and hardware will be put into action. My guess is that it's not a question of it, but when.

Biden and NATO need to have a response prepared for this. Russia has a significant advantage with a shared border, and we all know how well things turn out when engaging in war against an enemy on their border, thousands of miles away from us.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

bass4funk: Communist China on the other hand is a serious cancerous threat to the US

Here is a thread from yesterday regarding the US and China which, oddly enough, you didn't comment on:

https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-2-china's-xi-calls-for-fairer-world-order-as-rivalry-with-u.s.-deepens

Feel free to post your comments about China there. This article is about Russia.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

All of NATO's cards have been played: 1) Regime Change (Ukraine); 2) Sanctions (worthless); 3) Low-level border conflict with mercenaries. All that remains are the other out-of-order steps: "no-fly zone" and "airstrikes." Except unlike in the cases of Iraq and Libya, the airspace would be hotly contested and the caualty count too high for Europeans and Americans to endure.

There is no parallel universe in which the globalist neo-clowns get their wish for a conflict in their favor. They will have to back down. If not, then look for a coup in these Disunited States of America - because it's coup, back down from The Bear, or Thermonuclear War. There is no fourth option.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

And this is happening in my Europe.

NATO will for sure use countermeasures but also I don’t think at the state of the world the U.S. and it’s partners can afford a major conflict so as Russia

Let's be honest and admit that EU envies countries like China and Russia, who are able to independently pursue national interests.

NATO has been a waste of taxpayers money since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Trump was right wanting to ditch that club.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Here is a thread from yesterday regarding the US and China which, oddly enough, you didn't comment on:

I know the thread and?

Feel free to post your comments about China there. This article is about Russia.

I did, but since Russia and China are establishing closer military ties we should just ignore that because it makes the left feel uncomfortable? Give me a break.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Aly RustomToday  07:47 am JST

Russia is as much of a threat to the US as China. Good thing the US now has a president willing to stand up to both countries instead of capitulating to and appeasing them like the previous president.

Amen

While I am not necessarily agreeing with how Russia and China do things, I also don't feel the US should be deciding itself it is the premium product. There are plenty of things in all 3 countries that need improving on.

I have close to zero interest in US politics, but it is clear the US needs to focus on its own issues first. Russia at least on the surface seem to be prioritizing this.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Corrected post: An interesting perspective. Remember the annual press conference that Putin gives in December? I found the on-line transcript again. In regards to international relations, especially to those in the West, Putin said five times that Russia is peaceful and good. And several times, he left open the question, of which country is aggressive and which was is "peaceful and good." He also said that "Russia is certainly very good mannered and polite, and we want to work towards diplomatic resolution of conflicts," and "[N]ow, saying that Russia is all good, and there’s nothing that we are to blame for."

Compared with Wednesday's speech? That what is happening yesterday, today, and tomorrow is not their fault; they are good and peaceful and merely responding to "boorish" behavior; it the fault of "culprits." Self-critique has never been an important tool in their domestic relations toolbox.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

bass: I did

You did not comment on the thread, but it's still open:

https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-2-china's-xi-calls-for-fairer-world-order-as-rivalry-with-u.s.-deepens

Please post your comments about China there as that article is about tension between the US and China. This article is about Russia.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

China is building their military and using close to 18% of its GDP to achieve this and Biden on the other hand wants to cut our military budget.

Hmmm....

Biden’s proposing $715 billion for the Pentagon—an increase over Trump’s $704 billion defense budget...

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-military-budget/

This makes the Chinese and the Russians to lesser extent ecstatic.

Hmmm.....

Russian politicians sitting in parliament reportedly burst into applause when an MP broke the news of Donald Trump's emphatic election victory. An announcement by Foreign Affairs Committee member Vyacheslav Nikonov that Mr Trump had triumphed was almost drowned out by clapping and cheering in the State Duma.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-wins-us-election-russia-putin-result-a7406866.html

All this concern about China from Trump supporters....hard to believe that just a year ago our ex-President was saying this about Xi;

“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”

It's pretty clear that if COVID didn't derail his re-election and he didn't need a scapegoat, Trump would be continuing to extol his admiration for Xi, just like he does with Putin...and his supporters would be parroting the same...

They all three share the same views on freedom and democracy...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I’m surprised about some posters here so willing to take side of Russia and China.

As a westerner I prefer to live under our very imperfect democracy and freedom rather than a perfect well organized criminal dictatorship.

I think many Russian people deep in their heart dislike Putin and their regime as well but too scared to do something.

Putin as ex KGB knows sneaky tactics,all his opponents ended up either in harsh prisons or deadly poisoned.

Still the problem remains,that they are massing a formidable force on the Ukrainian border.

People like Trump gave them a green card to do as they want in a regional scale but thanks the providence Biden is revaluing the vital importance of NATO.

For those who stated that NATO is no more I can say that especially in such times the alliance needs to be reinforced.

To use NATO as a deterrent to their actions means that not only the U.S. are posing a wall against their territorial expansionism but the whole West together make a stand against them.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Mr. Putin means Russia will response if Japan attempt to get back "The four Northern islands" because there is Russia's security interest! Japan better don't ask the return of those four lost islands!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

I'm sure he will. The so-called alphas have to look good to their people. Such rhetoric plays well at lowest common denominator levels.

Communist China on the other hand is a serious cancerous threat to the US

Always with the deflection away from Putin or Putin's Russia. And a reminder that China is many things, but communist (sadly) isn't one of them.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I think many Russian people deep in their heart dislike Putin and their regime as well but too scared to do something.

I saw somebody's post a few days back that Putin has close to 70% approval rating, something that no western leader is even close to.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Toasted: Always with the deflection away from Putin or Putin's Russia. 

It's part of the bubble nowadays. If the article is about Russia, pivot to China. If the topic is white supremacy, pivot to BLM. If the topic is the Proud Boys, pivot to Portland. If the topic is a mass shooting, pivot to Chicago. If the topic is cops killing a black guy, pivot to the problems in the black community.

The Right simply does not have the stomach to face their issues head on. It's always pivot, evade, and deflect. But never talk about the issue standing in front of you and slapping you in the face.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

One of the commenters posted earlier about Mr. Putin's domestic approval rating. According to Statista[dot]com, a February 2021 poll of 1,601 adults in Russia reflects a 65% approval rating, a 34% disapproval, and 2% no answer.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

While I am not necessarily agreeing with how Russia and China do things, I also don't feel the US should be deciding itself it is the premium product. There are plenty of things in all 3 countries that need improving on.

agree 100%, but I don't see the US as an existential threat to world peace. I do see China and Russia as such.

I have close to zero interest in US politics, but it is clear the US needs to focus on its own issues first.

Domestic and foreign policy should go hand in hand. In fact, I believe that they help shape each other.

Russia at least on the surface seem to be prioritizing this.

I have to disagree with this. Putin is all about foreign policy and it is his behavior on the world stage that has helped shape the hostility toward him.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

One would be a total fool not to do what Putin is doing. Putin has mobilised troops NEAR ( not in Ukraine) its border with Ukraine.

The pro- Russian Ukrainian territories of Donbass and Donetsk forming the " salami" (middle) part of the sandwich between powerful Ukraine + NATO and Russian, by themselves CANNOT withstand an onslaught from ukraine+nato. Should UkNato forces invade the renegade province they'll quickly overrun it and at best stop at the Russian border proper or keep going right to Moscow. A threat by defination is something/ someone with intent and Capacity / ability, UkNato has that, therefore Putin, with abundance of caution has put his troops on the ready. Afterall, he's exhausted all diplomacy to keep NATO away from Russia's border.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Bait & switch. It's the other way around.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Russia is as much of a threat to the US as China. Good thing the US now has a president willing to stand up to both countries instead of capitulating to and appeasing them like the previous president.

The United States is the biggest threat to the entire world. For the entirety of the 21st Century and for much of the 20th, the US has been the chief exporter of violence, war, resource theft, poverty, international governmental interference and social upheaval. Your country has a lot to answer for.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

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