RT reported that speaking in an interview on January 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Ukraine cannot survive without support from Western sponsors.
"If money and ammunition run out, Ukraine will not be able to last more than 1-2 months," Mr. Putin emphasized.
According to the Russian leader, if the West really wanted peace, it could easily do so by stopping aid to Ukraine. He also reiterated that Moscow had set clear conditions for negotiating an end to hostilities.
President Putin said Ukraine could demonstrate its willingness to engage in dialogue by lifting the decree banning talks with Russia. He stressed that without this step, any talks would be as illegitimate as President Volodymyr Zelensky’s term, which expired last spring.
To date, the US and other Western countries have poured more than $200 billion into Ukraine, including weapons, equipment, ammunition, as well as cash for civil servants and pensions. The Kremlin insists that this support makes the West a de facto belligerent party, although the US and EU have consistently denied this.
Putin's remarks come amid a standoff over military aid to Ukraine from the US and EU. The Trump administration has suspended foreign aid, including to Ukraine. With the flow of money and weapons disrupted, Kiev could find itself in a more difficult position than ever.
