Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats no longer hold sway, and Ukraine’s allies must not succumb to his intimidation. This was stated by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiha, in a Telegram post on Sunday, September 15.
Sybiha recalled that in the spring of 2022, Putin warned of “unprecedented consequences” if the West provided Ukraine with defensive weapons. However, once these weapons were delivered, the Russian leader did not take any significant retaliatory measures.
“Putin has used this rhetoric repeatedly, but every time he is confronted with strength, he retreats and finds ways to explain it to his people,” Sybiha noted.
The Ukrainian official stressed that Putin uses threats in an attempt to weaken international support for Ukraine. Instead of backing down, Sybiha urged Ukraine’s allies to increase their assistance.
“We need to remove restrictions, boost the range of our defense capabilities, enhance our air defense systems, and strengthen Ukraine’s economic and energy resilience. Fear and hesitation lead to death and crises. To restore peace, courage, not fear, is needed,” the minister emphasized.
Sybiha’s comments came in response to Putin’s latest warning that long-range strikes by Ukrainian forces on Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons would be seen as NATO’s direct involvement in the war. However, history has shown that when faced with resistance, the aggressor steps back.
