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President Vladimir Putin threatened the West and the Russian oligarchs he saw as treasonous in a televised address from the Kremlin. Photo/The Kremlin
The threat was delivered in a televised speech from the Kremlin. “Western countries will use those who get their money here but live there to divide society,” he said, referring to Russian oligarchs whom he considers traitors.
“I don’t judge those who have villas in Miami or the French Riviera. Or who can’t live without oysters or foie gras or so-called ‘gender freedom’,” Putin said.
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“The problem is that they are mentally there, and not here, with our people, with Russia. The West will try to bet on the so-called fifth column, on traitors… to divide our society, to provoke civil confrontation… to try to achieve its goals. And there is one goal – the destruction of Russia.”
He insisted that military operations would continue in Ukraine, even though his troops were stuck outside Kiev.
Putin went on to claim the West has sought to have “global domination” and has used conflict to impose tough sanctions. “Because they just don’t want a strong and sovereign Russia,” he said.
“Everyone, and especially Russians, will always be able to distinguish true patriots from trash and traitors, and just spit them out like midges accidentally flying into their mouths,” he was quoted as saying. AFPThursday (17/3/2022).
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