Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council warned on Thursday, March 23, 2023 about the rising threat of a nuclear war.
Also, Medvedev blasted a German Minister for threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin with arrest, saying that such action would amount to a declaration of war and trigger a Russian strike on Germany.
Medvedev said in video remarks to reporters that Russia’s relations with the West have hit an all-time bottom. Asked whether the threat of a nuclear conflict has eased, Medvedev replied, “No, it hasn’t decreased, it has grown.”
“Every day when they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer,” he added.
The Russian Security Chief has issued a barrage of such strongly-worded statements in the past, blasting the U.S. and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia.
It has been a drastic transformation for the gentle-looking politician, who once was hailed by the West as a liberal hope. The soft-spoken and mild-mannered Medvedev, who served as Russia’s President from 2008 to 2012, was widely seen by Western officials as liberal.
In Thursday’s comments, Dmitry Medvedev denounced the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President, Vladimir Putin on charges of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine as legally null and void.
Medvedev noted that the move added to a “colossal negative potential” in the already bitterly strained ties between Russia and the West. “Our relations with the West are already worse than they have ever been in history,” he stated.
Medvedev specifically rebuked German Justice Minister, Marco Buschmann, who said last week that Putin would be arrested on the ICC’s warrant if he visits Germany.
“Let’s imagine … the leader of a nuclear power visits the territory of Germany and is arrested,” Medvedev stated, adding that it would amount to a declaration of war against Russia.
“In this case, our assets will fly to hit the Bundestag, the Chancellor’s office and so on.”
Dmitry Medvedev
He noted that Russia’s nuclear forces have provided a strong deterrent amid the fighting in Ukraine, adding that “we would have been torn to pieces without them.”
Medvedev Challenges Ukraine’s Sovereignty
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, also challenged Ukraine’s sovereignty in comments that could reflect Moscow’s plans to extend its gains.
“Honestly speaking, Ukraine is part of Russia but due to geopolitical reasons and the course of history, we had tolerated that we were living in separate quarters and had been forced to acknowledge those invented borders for a long time.”
Dmitry Medvedev
Medvedev declared that “it’s useless to have talks” with the West and spoke with contempt about Western politicians, alleging a “catastrophic drop in competence and elementary literacy of European Union leaders.”
“I have no illusions that we could communicate with them again anytime soon. It makes no sense to negotiate with certain countries and blocs, they only understand the language of force.”
Dmitry Medvedev
Medvedev who heads a Security Council panel which coordinates weapons production, derided Western statements alleging that Russia is running out of weapons and emphasized that Russian weapons industries have increased output.
Medvedev stated that Russia will produce 1,500 battle tanks this year alone and boost production of other weapons to meet the army’s needs. His claims could not be independently verified.
“The most important thing now is to make it all in necessary volumes, and we are launching new factories to do that,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev disclosed that the Russian military already has good intelligence drones and loitering munitions, but acknowledged that it has yet to deploy long-range strike drones.
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