Russia’s defence minister Andrei Belousov was handing out medals to soldiers when he gave a stirring rallying message on the country’s “confrontation with the West.”
Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov on ‘decisive moment’
Russia’s troops have been warned to be on “high alert” as its military chief issued a chilling speech.
This week, Kremlin drones attacked Kyiv and there were explosions in the city as air defences were activated. In Kherson, the mother of 13-year-old injured twins was buried under the rubble of a destroyed multi-storey building hit by a Putin bomb.
During a medal ceremony for soldiers, Kremlin’s defence minister Andrei Belousov said: “Today, a decisive moment has come for Russia in its confrontation with the collective West. The fate of our great country now depends on the actions of every person, every soldier and officer.
“We believe in you and your readiness to solve the most difficult tasks.” Belousov did not go into details on the “decisive moment” as he awarded Gold Star medals and honorary weapons to troops he said had undertaken “heroic deeds” in the war.
He spoke as the US threatened to unplug Ukraine from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet terminals unless Volodymyr Zelensky signed a deal giving the US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals. Starlink – part of Musk’s SpaceX company – is seen as vital to Ukraine in the war against Russia, and its loss would amount to a massive blow, and a major advantage to Moscow.
Some reports say Zelensky will reverse his earlier refusal to imminently sign a minerals deal reportedly worth $500 billion. Donald Trump said yesterday Ukraine was “very happy” with the deal and the U.S. would “get our money back”, referring to war aid to Ukraine.
Ukrainian military intelligence claim Putin is poised to declare victory in the war. On February 24, the US will submit a resolution to the UN to resolve the conflict in Ukraine
Trump earlier doubled down on criticisms, accusing “modestly successful comedian” Zelensky of starting the war. This is despite Russia’s invasion three years ago, and “spending $350 billion on a war that was basically unwinnable, that should never have started, and would never have started if I were president”.
Trump said: “He refuses to hold elections. His rating in real Ukrainian polls is low. How can you be popular when every city is being destroyed? It’s hard to be popular. Someone said, ‘Oh no, his ratings are good.’ Come on.”
