Putin warns the West: “Without dialogue and negotiation, the risk of using force is high

Attended the Davos Forum in 12 years since 2009
Biden administration’s extension of newsstart is positive

On the 27th (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) gives a speech at a video conference at the World Economic Forum (WEF). [이미지출처=EPA연합뉴스]

[아시아경제 김수환 기자] President Vladimir Putin sent a warning message at the World Economic Forum (WEF), which was attended after 12 years, saying that illegal sanctions targeting the West could increase the risk of using force. It was positive that Joe Biden agreed to extend the new strategic arms reduction agreement (New START) with the US administration.

On the 27th (local time), according to foreign media such as Russia’s TASS, President Putin poured out remarks to check the Western world, including the United States, in a video speech on WEF that day. He said, “The political and economic systems of Western countries, which appear to be so-called’democratic’, have only aggravated social conflicts.” He then warned, “Unregulated games such as use of trade obstacles, illegal sanctions, financial and technical restrictions, and restrictions in the field of information increase the risk of unilateral use of force, which can lead to danger.” The US and the European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia, the Russian government’s accusations of hacking, and trade disputes could lead to an actual armed war.

President Putin said, “Corona 19 has caused political conflicts such as social polarization, populism, extremism, and so on. We can only solve this problem through global solidarity.” The US ABC broadcast analyzed President Putin’s remarks as “criticizing the situation where political conflicts in the US such as the recent US Capitol riots are increasing and the US-led world order.”

At the same time, President Putin also criticized former US President Donald Trump’s Twitter account suspension. “Some of the big IT companies are also infringing on the public interest by exerting great influence for their own interests,” he said. CNBC reported, “It is interpreted as a head-on criticism of US IT companies that are exerting influence in the political world by permanently suspending the account of former President Donald Trump.”

However, it was the only positive evaluation of the agreement between the US and Russia to extend the New Start treaty made the day before. He assessed that the Biden administration’s efforts were meaningful as “a move in the right direction, of course.” Earlier, the US and Russian diplomatic authorities exchanged diplomatic notes on the previous day, extending the New Start Treaty by five years until February 5, 2026. Russia’s Senate and House of Representatives approved an extended ratification plan for New Start submitted by President Putin on the same day, and the treaty is expected to take effect soon after Russian domestic procedures are finalized.

Reporter Kim Soo-hwan [email protected]