Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers on the tomb of Soviet Marshal Vasily Chuikov at the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex, as part of commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad in the World War Two, in Volgograd, Russia February 2, 2023. Sputnik/Kirill Braga/Kremlin via REUTERS
In a fiery speech marking 80 years since Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Battle of Stalingrad, Russian president Vladimir Putin said that Russia is being threatened by German tanks “again” and warned that Moscow is ready to respond to aggression from the West.
Speaking at events marking the 80th anniversary of the decisive World War 2 battle, Putin said “It’s unbelievable but true. We are again being threatened by German Leopard tanks.”
The Russian president was referring to Germany’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
“Again and again we are forced to repel the aggression of the collective West,” Putin said.
“We aren’t sending tanks to their borders but we have something to respond with, and it won’t be just about using armored vehicles. Everyone should understand this,” he added.
Putin also said that he was ready to draw on Russia’s entire arsenal, which includes nuclear weapons.
‘Russia will defeat Nazism again’
He evoked the spirit of the Soviet army that defeated Nazi German forces at Stalingrad 80 years ago to declare that Russia would defeat Ukraine “in the grip of a new incarnation of Nazism.”
“Unfortunately, we see that the ideology of Nazism in its modern form and manifestation again directly threatens the security of our country,” Putin told an audience of army officers and members of local patriotic and youth groups.
“Again and again, we have to repel the aggression of the collective West. It’s incredible … but it’s a fact: we are again being threatened with German Leopard tanks with crosses on them.”