Russian President Vladimir Putin lamented that Nazism in its current guise once again threatens Russia during a speech at a concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad. He added that Moscow once again has to make a stand against the forces of the collective West.
Referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin noted that Russia is once again threatened with German tanks and that foreign powers try to use the adherents of Stepan Bandera - the infamous WWII Ukrainian Nazi collaborator - to attack Russia.
"Unbelievable, but it is a fact: we are once again being threatened with German tanks – Leopards – that have crosses [painted] on their sides," Putin said.
The Russian president also warned that those who seek to drag Germany into a new war and hope to achieve victory on the battlefield apparently fail to understand that a war with Russia today would be quite different.
These powers which try to wage an undeclared war against Russia will receive a tough response to their actions, Putin remarked.
"We do not send tanks to their borders," the president remarked, adding, however, that Russia still has other means to retaliate.
Regarding the nature of this response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that Russia is going to utilize its significant capabilities to a greater extent as the collective West continues to supply new weapons to Ukraine.
Last week, Germany announced its intent to supply some 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, making this move after repeatedly being urged to do so by Washington and Kiev.
Shortly afterwards, the United States said it would send Ukraine 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev.