(ORDO NEWS) — Vladimir Putin stepped up efforts to modernize the Russian fleet by launching the construction of new nuclear submarines. On Monday, Putin ordered the construction of two nuclear submarines, armed with ICBMs, along with other warships in an attempt to equip the country with “the latest weapons” and build a “powerful and balanced fleet.”
During the video call, the president also praised two diesel submarines and two corvettes, which are being built at shipyards in Severodvinsk, St. Petersburg and Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Putin said: “We will continue to build up the potential of the Russian navy, develop its bases and infrastructure, and equip it with modern weapons. A strong, sovereign Russia needs a powerful, balanced navy.”
This statement came against the backdrop of growing tensions with the West – after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, relations have deteriorated sharply.
But at the same time, the Kremlin assures that it will not intervene in the crisis in Afghanistan after the seizure of power by the Taliban. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke on Monday about a meeting of leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, dedicated to the consequences of “another civil war in Afghanistan.”
After a meeting held within the framework of the heads of the military departments of seven former Soviet republics (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) under the leadership of Russia, Peskov clarified: “Of course, no one is going to interfere in these events.”
Russia has established a strong presence in the Mediterranean – including at a base in Tartus, Syria. The recently modernized base is the only Russian facility outside the former Soviet Union.
In his address, Putin added: “We will continue to display the Russian flag in strategically important ocean areas. Many of our weapons have capabilities that are unparalleled in the world, and some will remain unsurpassed for a long time to come.”
Against this backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pledged to do everything possible to return [Russia’s] annexed Crimea. Speaking at the Crimean Platform summit, Zelenskiy called on international allies to support his efforts to reclaim Crimea. Addressing an audience of representatives of 30 NATO member countries, the Ukrainian leader promised “to do everything possible to return Crimea, so that Crimea, together with Ukraine, would become part of Europe.
“To do this, we will use all possible political, legal, primarily diplomatic means,” Zelensky said, warning that Kiev needs “effective support at the international level.” He criticized Russia for turning Crimea into a “springboard for strengthening its influence in the Black Sea region.”
However, Kremlin spokesman Peskov called the summit an “anti-Russian event.” Ukraine decided to hold an event to increase pressure on Russia in connection with the annexation of Crimea, which many countries, including the UK and the United States, refused to recognize and branded illegal.
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