Putin threatens the West: If they want to "defeat" Russia, "let them try"
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Thursday that his country "has not yet begun serious matters" in Ukraine, where it has launched a large-scale military offensive since last February, while stressing that Moscow remains open to negotiations with Kyiv.
"Each party should know that we have not yet started serious matters" in Ukraine, Putin said in a televised speech, adding, "At the same time, we do not reject peace negotiations. More difficult for them.
On Thursday, Putin challenged Western countries to try defeating Moscow "on the battlefield", after the Americans and Europeans accelerated the pace of arms deliveries to Ukrainian forces.
"Today, we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. What do we say? Let them try," Putin said during a meeting with heads of blocs in the State Duma.
"The sanctions cause us difficulties, but not to the level that the West wanted," Putin added.
The Russian propaganda machine is exploiting potential divisions in European public opinion over support for Ukraine, according to a study by the US intelligence company Recorded Future, published Thursday.
The study found that the longer the war continues, "the more likely it will naturally erode support for the Western alliance, due to war fatigue and lack of enthusiasm to bear its long-term economic consequences."
She added, "It is almost certain that Russian propaganda operations will try more to take advantage of this opportunity to get public opinion to support it."
Several observers believe that the time factor is working in favor of the Russians, as it contributes especially to the decline of Western support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian attack that began on February 24.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed, a short time ago, the urgent need to end the conflict before winter arrives.
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