Vladimir Putin Threatens to Finish Off Ukraine During Visit to Russian Nuclear Submarine at Arctic Naval Base

Vladimir Putin’s remarks on the war in Ukraine took a darker turn yesterday during a visit to an Arctic naval base.

While aboard a Russian nuclear submarine, he declared his intention to “finish off” Ukraine, intensifying the rhetoric that has marked the conflict.

Addressing the crew of submariners, Putin said, “Not long ago, I said we’d grind [Ukraine] down — now it looks like we’ll finish them off.”

His words reflect the ongoing escalation of the war, with the Russian President growing increasingly confident about the outcome.

Mocking the UK and its Military

As part of his speech, Putin also took the opportunity to ridicule the state of the British economy and military.

Referring to the UK’s recent commitment to send an Anglo-French reassurance force to Ukraine, Putin scoffed at Britain’s economic struggles, claiming it now ranks somewhere around 9th or 10th in global terms.

“Hence the armed forces — what is it, 170,000 or 180,000? That’s all the armed forces of the UK!” While Putin’s criticism of the UK’s economy is somewhat accurate when measured by purchasing power parity, the UK remains the 6th largest economy globally by GDP, whereas Russia ranks 11th.

This reflects the growing confidence in his stance against Ukraine and the West, especially as Russia faces little immediate pushback from major powers like the US.

The Growing Pressure on Ukraine

In the midst of these tensions, Ukraine faces mounting pressure from the United States.

A controversial new deal, pushed by President Donald Trump’s administration, has raised alarm among experts.

This deal, meant to secure Ukraine’s resources in exchange for security guarantees, is being described as an “expropriation document” and even compared to “holding a gun” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s head.

The proposed deal involves a US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund that would give the US control over Ukraine’s natural resources, including minerals and gas.

With the US having significant influence over this fund, some experts believe this could shift the balance of power, leaving Ukraine with little room to negotiate or secure long-term protections.

New Submarines and Military Advances

Putin’s confidence also seems tied to Russia’s military advancements.

During his Arctic visit, he launched a new nuclear-powered submarine, the “Perm,” named after a city in Russia’s Ural mountains.

The Perm is a significant addition to Russia’s naval capabilities, equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles that travel at speeds making them nearly impossible to defend against.

These missiles, with a range of 900 kilometers (560 miles), add another layer of threat to an already volatile situation.

In the meantime, Russia continues its aggressive campaign in Ukraine, launching drone strikes overnight, targeting civilian infrastructure, housing developments, and even hospitals.

The situation remains dire, with continued loss of life and destruction as the war drags on.

The Potential Ceasefire and Stalemate

Despite ongoing talks, particularly between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Putin has made it clear that he would only agree to a partial ceasefire under specific conditions.

He has called for the lifting of Western sanctions and demanded that Zelensky step down, replaced by an interim administration.

This stance complicates peace efforts, as European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have proposed sending a peacekeeping force to Ukraine.

These forces, however, would not be deployed to the frontlines but stationed in strategic areas, offering only a limited form of protection for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, discussions continue behind the scenes about a deal that could hand the US unprecedented control over Ukraine’s natural resources.

The agreement would allow the US to veto sales of Ukrainian resources to other countries, including China and Europe, without offering Ukraine significant security guarantees in return.

Experts believe this deal could reshape Ukraine’s future, making it more dependent on the US, further complicating the already tense geopolitical situation.

The Bigger Picture

These developments suggest that the war in Ukraine could enter a new phase, with Russia leveraging both military force and economic strategies to achieve its goals.

At the same time, the US’s involvement and its potentially exploitative agreements with Ukraine may set the stage for a very different post-war landscape.

As European nations work to reassure Ukraine of their support, the true impact of these deals remains uncertain, and the future of the conflict continues to hang in the balance.