One in all President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies right this moment stated that Moscow is now in a ‘navy confrontation’ with the US and Britain and the West is making an attempt to wipe Russia from the political map of the world.

Russian Safety Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, who’s seen by diplomats as one of many main hard-line influences on Putin, claimed the battle in Ukraine isn’t a battle between Moscow and Kyiv – however as an alternative between Russia and NATO.

Patrushev claimed that the West is continuous to ‘pull Russia aside’ by supplying weapons to Ukraine.

‘The occasions in Ukraine will not be a conflict between Moscow and Kyiv – this can be a navy confrontation between Russia and NATO, and above all the USA and Britain,’ Patrushev informed the Argumenti i Fakti newspaper in an interview.

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, who is seen by diplomats as one of the major hard-line influences on Putin (pictured together in 2017), claimed the war in Ukraine is not a conflict between Moscow and Kyiv - but instead between Russia and NATO

Russian Safety Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, who’s seen by diplomats as one of many main hard-line influences on Putin (pictured collectively in 2017), claimed the battle in Ukraine isn’t a battle between Moscow and Kyiv – however as an alternative between Russia and NATO

Ukrainian military fire an anti-aircraft weapon, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Tuesday

Ukrainian navy hearth an anti-aircraft weapon, as Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues, in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Tuesday 

‘The Westerners’ plans are to proceed to tug Russia aside, and ultimately simply erase it from the political map of the world,’ Patrushev stated.

Putin casts the battle in Ukraine as an existential battle with an aggressive and smug West, and has stated that Russia will use all accessible means to guard itself and its individuals in opposition to any aggressor. He has promised victory in Ukraine regardless of a collection of battlefield setbacks. 

The USA has denied Russian claims that it desires to destroy Russia, the world’s largest producer of pure assets, whereas President Joe Biden has cautioned {that a} battle between Russia and NATO might set off World Struggle Three.

Requested about Patrushev’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated NATO and the USA have been a part of the Ukraine battle.

‘De facto they’ve already change into an oblique social gathering to this battle, pumping Ukraine with weapons, applied sciences, intelligence data and so forth,’ Peskov informed an everyday information briefing.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered one of many deadliest European conflicts since World Struggle Two and the largest confrontation between Moscow and the West for the reason that 1962 Cuban Missile Disaster, when the Soviet Union and United States got here closest to intentional nuclear battle. 

Asked about Patrushev's remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said NATO and the United States were part of the Ukraine conflict. Pictured: Ukrainian members of the military fire an anti-aircraft weapon, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the frontline city of Bakhmut on Tuesday

 Requested about Patrushev’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated NATO and the USA have been a part of the Ukraine battle. Pictured: Ukrainian members of the navy hearth an anti-aircraft weapon, as Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues, within the frontline metropolis of Bakhmut on Tuesday

The USA and its allies have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an imperial land seize, whereas Ukraine has vowed to struggle till the final Russian soldier is ejected from its territory.

As a former Soviet spy who has recognized Putin for the reason that Seventies, Patrushev’s views give an perception into pondering on the very highest ranges of the Kremlin. He rebuffed CIA Director William Burns’ warnings in 2021 in opposition to an invasion of Ukraine.

In a Soviet-style evaluation of the West, Patrushev forged Western political elites as corrupt and managed by trans-national firms and enterprise clans which deliberate and executed ‘color revolutions’ internationally.

‘The American state is only a shell for a conglomerate of big firms that rule the nation and attempt to dominate the world,’ Patrushev stated.

Local residents remove debris and carry belongings out of a shop destroyed in recent shelling in Donetsk on Tuesday

Native residents take away particles and carry belongings out of a store destroyed in latest shelling in Donetsk on Tuesday

The USA, Patrushev stated, had sown chaos in Afghanistan, Vietnam and the Center East, and had been making an attempt for years to undermine Russia’s ‘distinctive’ tradition and language.

Russia, he stated, was a sufferer of Western designs to push it again to the borders of fifteenth century Muscovy, and accused the West of bleeding Ukraine to undermine Russia.

‘There isn’t a place for our nation within the West,’ he stated.

In response, he stated, Russia would obtain financial sovereignty and monetary independence whereas additionally increase its armed forces and particular companies to discourage any potential aggressor.

Russian enterprise and personal capital, he stated, wanted to be extra ‘nationally oriented’.

‘The youthful era must be impressed by the concepts of inventive work for the good thing about our Motherland, and never sit within the places of work of Western firms,’ he stated.