Musings From Abroad

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

Published

2 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

Uganda turns to China for $150 million loan after World Bank halts funding

Published

20 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

East African country, Uganda will now seek to borrow $150 million from China’s Export-Import Bank (Exim), following lending restrictions by the World Bank for its anti-homosexuality law.

The action highlights the country’s growing dependence on Chinese lenders after the World Bank’s decision earlier this year stopping all new loans to the country.

Uganda is negotiating a loan to finance the construction of a pipeline to help export its crude oil to foreign markets with the Chinese export credit organisations SINOSURE and Exim Bank.

The money, the finance ministry says, is “to finance the supply, installation, commissioning, and support of the national data transmission backbone infrastructure.”

A law prohibiting LGBTQ was passed by the Ugandan legislature in May. Several stringent regulations were incorporated into the legislation, which drew strong criticism from the international community, including the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and major corporations like the World Bank.

Before lending to Uganda was suspended by the World Bank, it was the country’s largest development partner.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act imposes severe penalties, including death, for a variety of homosexual offences.

Musings From Abroad

Russia’s free grain to hit 6 African countries this week

Published

3 days ago

November 26, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s promise to send free grain to six African countries in July, Russian shipments of donated grain are due to begin landing in Africa within days.

The supply will give fresh impetus to Russia’s bid to bolster its influence on the continent after criticism over its invasion of Ukraine and withdrawal from a deal that facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea linked to pushing up global food and fertilizer prices.

The Russian Agriculture Ministry stated earlier this month that the shipments would amount to 200,000 metric tonnes by the end of the year, with Somalia and Burkina Faso scheduled to be the initial recipients. According to Putin’s July statement, Zimbabwe, Mali, Eritrea, and the Central African Republic are also expected to receive between 25,000 and 50,000 metric tonnes of grain each.

Two of the top exporters of grain and vegetable oil worldwide are Russia and Ukraine. Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian ports and stores has affected the world’s supply of both commodities during the war. Russia in July also quit a year-old agreement that had allowed Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports, which, according to a study by a South African agency, helped feed about 95 million people but fell short in ensuring that fertilizer-originating from Russia could flow freely to global markets. Had that happened, food could have been produced to feed about 199 million people.

However, Putin, in order to fulfil what he claimed was Moscow’s crucial role in ensuring global food security, stated that Russia was prepared to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa on both a commercial and assistance basis.

While most African countries have adopted a non-aligned posture in the war, Russia’s influence in the continent has been on the rise lately, particularly with regard to defence relations.