In a controversial statement made at an annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, a "disgrace" to the Jewish community. Putin claimed that many Jewish friends agreed with him and that Zelensky does not represent Jewish values and principles.
Putin said: "I have many Jewish friends. Zelensky is not a Jew, and he is a disgrace to the Jewish people," CNN quoted him as saying.
"Ukraine will soon stop using its own equipment entirely. Nothing of it remains. Everything they fight with and everything they use is brought in from the outside. You can't fight like that for long," he added.
Putin Warns Of 'Serious Danger' Of NATO Involvement In Ukraine Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concerns about the potential escalation of the Ukraine conflict involving NATO during the plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to CNN.
Putin stated that there is a significant risk that NATO will be drawn deeper into the conflict, emphasising the importance of exercising caution, the report said.
Furthermore, he claimed that Russia's military had the capability to devastate parts of central Kyiv but had refrained from doing so on purpose, implying a strategic decision to be cautious, as per the report. Putin also suggested that border attacks were designed to divert attention and resources away from other fronts.
Putin Claims Western Sanctions Ineffective In Isolating Russia
Putin said sanctions on Russia had failed to isolate it and instead led to an "expansion" in its trade with "the markets of the future". He praised new deals with countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, BBC reported.
Many Western nations, including the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU, have slapped travel bans on Russian individuals and clamped down on trade with the country after it invaded Ukraine.