Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to launch more strikes on Ukraine and continue his support for Iran in the ongoing war against the United States, despite European countries ramping up pressure
on Moscow to halt its offensive.
After the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said the Russian military had been given orders to carry out mass strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, according to The New York Times.
He further claimed Russia’s strikes were jeopardising Kyiv’s agricultural exports and risking a financial crisis. “I’m not saying we’ll collapse the economy there, but it’s a serious challenge for them,” he said.
He also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “state terrorism” after the latter warned that civilian aircraft wouldn’t be safe in Russia due to Kyiv’s drones. “I’d draw attention to the fact that they are the ones asking us to resume negotiations, asking for personal meetings. Negotiations are not conducted with terrorists.”
EU, NATO Ramp Up Pressure On Russia
Putin’s remarks came as the European Union (EU) and NATO have called for applying more pressure on Moscow to halt its attacks on Ukraine. There had been mounting concern over Russia launching a possible attack on a NATO country, prompting a visit by CIA Chief John Ratcliffe to Moscow.
Earlier, the EU said the bloc was preparing its “most far-reaching” sanctions package against Russia. The proposed measures would expand the sanctions list by roughly 1,600 individuals and entities, particularly those connected to Russia’s military-industrial complex. NATO also imposed several sanctions aimed at weakening Russia’s economy.
Several European countries also targeted ships linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which Moscow uses to circumvent restrictions on its oil exports. Russia had warned of a tit-for-tat response with European vessels.
Recently, Germany formally accused Russia of attempting a drone attack at the Leipzig-Halle airport, and announced several retaliatory measures, including the shutting down of a Russian consulate. Germany’s interior minister said components of the drone resembled those used by Russia against Ukraine, which has been the case in other NATO countries as well. NATO allies like Poland, Italy, the UK, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all backed Germany’s claims against Russia.
Russia’s Support For Iran
Putin also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and pledged his continued support for what he called the Iranian people’s “courage and resilience” in defending their national interests.
This came amid several reports that Russia had backed the Iranians with intelligence, including on US assets in the Persian Gulf, and shipped drone components to Tehran via the Caspian Sea. Both countries traded strikes on Tuesday after a brief pause in hostilities.
“During this difficult time, we are trying to provide you with the assistance you need. We have discussed this with you and are supplying you with the necessary goods,” Putin told Pezeshkian in Bishkek.
The Financial Times reported that Russia secretly supported Iran’s development of advanced supersonic cruise missiles since 2023 under a covert programme aimed at giving Tehran the ability to threaten US aircraft carriers and other warships.
The programme, codenamed C430L, involved some of Russia’s most experienced missile specialists and focused on helping Iran develop a ramjet propulsion system capable of powering cruise missiles at several times the speed of sound.
