Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the heavy Western sanctions leveled against his country are “akin to a declaration of war” amid his ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine have been severe, with certain Russian banks being kicked off the SWIFT financial system, and Western countries freezing the assets of Russia’s central bank. In addition, the Russian State and many major Russian companies will be prevented from borrowing money on certain European markets, and much more.
“These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war,” he said, speaking in Moscow.
“But thank God it has not come to that.”
Putin added that any attempt by foreign countries to impose a “no-fly zone” in Ukraine would be considered an entry into the war, and would have disastrous consequences for Europe and the world.
While Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelensky has repeatedly asked for a no-fly zone to be established in his country, NATO and the US have repeatedly rejected this request. If a no-fly zone were imposed by NATO, American and European forces would be required to shoot down Russian planes, resulting in an all-out war with nuclear-armed Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that a third world war would be “nuclear and destructive,” and Russia’s nuclear forces have been on high alert since early in the conflict.