Putin: The risk of nuclear war is increasing and the war in Ukraine may be long-term

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The Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that his army may continue to fight in Ukraine for a long time, but said he wouldn’t call for a second wave of mobilization for now.

Putin rarely talks about the duration of the war, which began more than nine months ago, but told supporters during a televised meeting on Wednesday that the war could continue for more time.

“This could be a long process,” he said.

Russia has been forced to retreat in many important locations in the east and south since July in the face of Ukrainian counter-attacks launched by Kiev with increasing Western weapons stockpiles.

Putin noted in his remarks that the risk of nuclear war is increasing, but Russia won’t threaten to use such weapons.

“We didn’t go crazy,” Putin said.

“We’re aware of what nuclear weapons are… We’ve these means in more modern and sophisticated forms than any other nuclear country… But we are not about to wave them around the world.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview published on Thursday that the risk of Putin using nuclear weapons had diminished in response to international pressure.

Putin said about 150,000 of the 300,000 reservists called up by the army in September and October were sent to Ukraine, 77,000 of them in combat units.

He pointed out that 150 thousand others are still in training centers.

“In light of these circumstances, there is no logic to talk about any additional mobilization measures,” he said.

Despite recent setbacks for Russian forces on the battlefield, including losing control of Kherson, the capital of the only Ukrainian province under Russian control, Putin said he didn’t regret starting the war.

The conflict has become one of the most devastating in Europe since World War II.

He added that Russia had achieved important results by acquiring new territories, referring to the annexation of four partially occupied regions in September that Ukraine and most United Nations member states say was illegal.

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