Few quotes from President Putin on nukes from yesterday's Valdai: The US aims to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. What is to achieve a strategic defeat of a country? If not to destroy this country, then, I don't know, to reduce this country to an insignificant role.1\7 Vladimir Putin: And at the same time, the US wants to have a dialogue with us on strategic stability. How is that? ... We are ready to conduct this dialogue, but in today's conditions, there are many issues here. 2\7

This space is worth watching. RIA: Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, called for an adjustment of the foundations of the state policy of Russia on nuclear deterrence in order to prevent the West from increasing degree of escalation. 1\4 A number of experts say it is necessary to bring the foundations of the state policy of Russia on nuclear deterrence in line with current situation, when the actions of the West against RU are becoming more aggressive, Kovalchuk said. "I think that's the right idea," he said. 2\4

"The United States is well aware of what deescalatory steps we expect from them" Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov - on arms control amid the conflict around Ukraine
kommersant.ru/doc/5785723 Thread 1\15 The US has "frozen" the bilateral strategic dialog. They did this, apparently, in an attempt to exert additional political pressure on Russia.... As a result of Washington's actions, arms control has become hostage to the general deep degradation of our bilateral relations 2\15

«В США прекрасно понимают, каких шагов по деэскалации мы от них ждем» Замглавы МИД РФ Сергей Рябков — о контроле над вооружениями в условиях конфликта вокруг Украины
kommersant.ru/doc/5785723 Тред 1\ США «заморозили» двусторонний стратдиалог. Сделали они это, по всей видимости, в попытке оказать дополнительное политическое давление на Россию.... в результате действий Вашингтона контроль над вооружениями стал заложником общей глубокой деградации наших двусторонних отношений 2\

To all politicians, experts and journos in US and EU who write that "Putin is trapped", "he needs a decent off ramp from the military campaign in Ukraine", etc., I strongly recommend watching the video of his conversation with young entrepreneurs and scientists today. 1/5 Here is the video I am talking about kremlin.ru/events/preside… 2/5

Всем политикам, экспертам и журналистам в США и ЕС, которые пишут, что "Путин в ловушке", "ему нужен сценарий достойного выхода из военной кампании на Украине" и т.д., настоятельно рекомендую посмотреть видео его сегодняшнего общения с молодыми предпринимателями и учеными. 1/4 Он напорист, хладнокровен и абсолютно уверен в себе. И своей миссии. Которую он, наконец, изложил прямым текстом: "Вот Пётр Первый Северную войну 21 год вёл. Казалось бы, воевал со Швецией, что-то отторгал… Ничего он не отторгал, он возвращал!" 2/4

It seems that the US stands up for the right of countries to choose their own security arrangements only when those arrangements benefit the US itself. If they run against American interests the US will do everything to derail them. 1/5 Angela Merkel thought North Stream 2 was good for German energy security. But the US wanted to sell its LNG so it went (and still goes) a long way to stop the project. 2/5