Musings From Abroad

Unrepentant Putin threatens ‘lightning-fast strikes’ on Western countries who intervene in the Ukraine war

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin, has threatened to meet Western nations’ intervention in Ukraine with a ‘lightning-fast strikes” military response, warning that the Russian army is prepared to deliver these strikes with strategic weapons believed to be the much touted nuclear weapons.

Putin who was speaking to Russian parliamentarians in St. Petersburg said:

“If someone decides to intervene in current events in Ukraine from the outside and creates unacceptable strategic threats for Russia, then they must know that our response, our retaliatory strikes, will be lightning-fast, quick.

“We have all the tools for this – such that no one else can boast of right now. And we won’t brag – we’ll use them if needed! And everyone should know about it! All decisions in this regard have already been made,” the unrepentant Putin said.

The belligerent threat from Putin came on Wednesday as Russia claimed to have carried out a missile strike in southern Ukraine that destroyed a “large batch” ofweapons supplied by Western countries including the United Kingdom and the United States.

“We want countries aiding Ukraine to get it into their heads that to meddle in ongoing events from the side and create unacceptable strategic threats for Russia, they must know that our response to counterpunches will be lightning-quick”, said the Russian leader.

The Russian president is also convinced that his country will withstand the economic pressure from heavy sanctions and high military spending in the fight against Ukraine, adding that the West is “erroneous in its opinion that Russia as a country is unnecessary and poses a threat to the whole world.”

This is not the first time Putin has issued a dire threat to Western nations since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Shortly before the invasion, the Russian strongman had warned that any country that become involved with his invasion of Ukraine that they would face “consequences greater than any you have faced in history.”

He had made the remarks as part of his speech in which he announced the invasion and immediately after the speech, the Ukrainian foreign ministry reported attacks in numerous cities.

Putin has also used similar arguments to justify the attack, often saying his country was only acting in self-defense against the eastward expansion of NATO and as a means of protecting Ukrainians from “nazification” and a “genocide.”

Related Topics:Featured Nuclear Weapons Russia Ukraine

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Musings From Abroad

Swiss company Mercuria partners Zambia’s IDC in new metals trading firm

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, on Thursday, it has established a metals trading arm with Zambia, the second-largest producer of copper in Africa.

The trading unit is jointly owned by Mercuria and an arm of Zambia’s Industrial Development Company (IDC), and its purpose is to allow Zambia to engage directly in the minerals trading market.

The joint venture “envisages the establishment of a vehicle to market and trade Zambian copper by mutual leverage,” according to a statement from Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of IDC.

The southern African nation wants to increase copper output to roughly 3 million metric tonnes within the next ten years, and in 2023, it produced roughly 698,000 tonnes of copper, down from 763,000 metric tonnes the year before.

In June, the Zambian government announced that it would establish a minerals trading unit.

Investors including First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold are ramping up production, with output set to receive a further boost once Vedanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines restart activity.

“Our joint venture with IDC marks a significant milestone for Zambia as it positions itself more strategically in the global minerals market,” Kostas Bintas, Mercuria’s global head of metals and minerals, said in the statement.

Musings From Abroad

Blinken to reveal UN Sudan funding additions

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Additional financing for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to strengthen civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, will be announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations on Thursday.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will centre on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to strengthen civil society, and the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price said.

“So part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price said.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organisations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement towards a ceasefire.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States would keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually end hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he said.