Putin warns of lengthy conflict with Kyiv; no plan for more conscription

MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Russian forces could be fighting in Ukraine for a long time, but said there will be no second call-up of soldiers for now.

Putin has rarely spoken about the duration of the conflict that began more than nine months ago, but told loyalists in a televised meeting on Wednesday that it could go on for some time yet.

"This can be a long process," he said.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February, saying Kyiv's deepening ties with the West posed a security threat.

Putin, in his remarks, said the risk of a nuclear war was growing, but Russia would not recklessly threaten to use such weapons.

"We have not gone crazy, we are aware of what nuclear weapons are," Putin said.

"We have these means in more advanced and modern form than any other nuclear country. ... But we aren't about to run around the world brandishing this weapon like a razor."

But he acknowledged the growing tensions, saying: "Such a threat is rising. Why make a secret out of it here?"

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine conflict has lessened due to international pressure heaped on Russia.

"One thing has changed for the time being. Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons," Scholz said in an interview with Germany's Funke media group, adding that it was "in response to the international community marking a red line".

About 150,000 of 300,000 Russian reservists called up in September and October had been deployed in Ukraine, with 77,000 in combat units, Putin said. The remaining 150,000 were still at training centers.

"Under these conditions, talk about any additional mobilization measures simply makes no sense," Putin said.

Russia's economy has overcome the short-term slump caused by the partial mobilization order, but the disinflationary impact it had in reducing consumer demand has practically disappeared, the central bank said on Wednesday.

Despite the loss of Kherson — the one Ukrainian provincial capital Russia had captured, Putin said Moscow has no regrets about launching the special operation.

He said Russia has achieved a "significant result" with the acquisition of "new territories", referring to the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Fresh EU sanctions

Meanwhile, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed the ninth package of sanctions against Russia that will include almost 200 individuals and entities and cut Russia's access to drones.

The ninth package proposes adding almost 200 additional individuals and entities to the sanctions list, including the Russian armed forces, as well as individual officers and defense industrial companies, among others.

So far, more than 1,200 individuals and 118 entities connected to Russia have been sanctioned, including Putin and his inner circle.

European military spending topped 200 billion euros ($210 billion) for the first time in 2021, the European Defence Agency said on Thursday, accounting for 1.5 percent of the 26 EDA member states' gross domestic product.

It rose 6 percent from 2020 to 214 billion euros, EDA said in its annual Defence Data Report.

Russian forces have fired more than 1,000 rockets and missiles at Ukraine's power grid, which is still working despite major damage, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Wednesday, citing officials of grid operator Ukrenergo.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned of an "apocalypse" scenario without power, running water or heat this winter if Russian airstrikes on infrastructure continue.

Kyiv could be left without central heating at a time when temperatures can fall as low as — 15 C, Klitschko said in an interview.

Agencies - Xinhua