The Kremlin has delivered a stark and uncompromising message, stating that Russia is both psychologically and militarily prepared for a direct confrontation with the West. This severe escalation in rhetoric frames the ongoing war in Ukraine as a battle for national survival against a united NATO front.
Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, issued the grave warning in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper. He asserted that the collective West has effectively become a single entity opposing Russia, transforming the conflict into a struggle against the combined might of NATO.
NATO Accused of Direct Involvement
Peskov's comments sharply intensify the long-standing accusation that the West is not merely a supplier of weapons to Kyiv but an active participant in the war. "In fact, the West is already directly involved in the conflict," he stated, pointing to the provision of intelligence, weaponry, and training to Ukrainian forces.
This preparation, he claimed, is not just about military hardware but also a national state of mind. "The entire society is consolidated [around the idea] that we have no right to lose and we must win," Peskov declared, signalling a deep, societal commitment to the war effort.
The Stakes: A Fight for Sovereignty
The Kremlin's narrative positions the conflict as an existential fight provoked by Western expansionism. Peskov articulated that Russia was left with no alternative but to launch its "special military operation" to prevent what it saw as an imminent threat from Ukraine, a country he claimed was being turned into an "anti-Russia" by Western powers.
This framing justifies the immense human and economic cost of the war to the Russian people and sets the stage for a prolonged, high-stakes confrontation with no apparent diplomatic off-ramp. The warning leaves little room for de-escalation, suggesting Moscow is digging in for a long and potentially wider conflict.
