Putin Says Ukraine Is Becoming Anti-Russia And Pledges A Response
MOSCOW - Russian president Vladimir Putin stated that the Ukraine is becoming 'anti-Russia' and says that Moscow is ready to act to threats to Russian security.
Putin stated, "Judging by everything, and this is very sad, Ukraine is slowly but surely turning into some kind of the polar opposite of Russia, some kind of anti-Russia, and into a platform from whose territory it seems we will constantly receive news requiring our special attention from a security point of view."
This, just one day after the Ukraine put Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro Russian politician under house arrest and cracked down on some individuals who had been doing business with Russia.
Putin called the situation in the Ukraine a political 'cleansing' and stated that the Ukraine is targeting people and businesses who are supporting better ties between the Ukraine and Russia, while Putin says Russia will not stand idly by while it happens.
Putin said "This is, of course, an issue that should always be on our radar and we should respond to this given the threats being created for us in a timely and appropriate manner".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said "For the first time in many years the number of oligarchs has not increased, but decreased. Minus Medvedchuk", and added, "With the help of legal tools, Medvedchuk was stripped of the possibility of using media assets and state property to openly attack the country and damage state security."
Tensions between the Ukraine and Russia are at an all time high, after Russia amassed over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border last month, which they claim were merely there for military exercises. After Russia announced a pullout however, they have kept around 100,000 soldiers stationed at the border despite claiming that they had withdrawn.
The continued Russian military and heavy weaponry stationed on the Ukrainian border causes many to believe that Russia may be planning an offensive on the Ukraine some time in the future and may be waiting for the right conditions.