Posted BY: Fortune
It has been 134 days since President Vladimir Putin first waged war on Ukraine.
Since then thousands of civilians have been killed, Europe has seen the largest refugee and humanitarian crisis in decades, and the prices of food and energy are at the highest levels in 40 years. And Putin is claiming he is just getting started.
In his most threatening message yet, Putin said that Russia has not even started his offensive strategy yet and the prospect of negotiations is declining as the conflict continues. Then he dared the West to come and fight on the battlefield itself.
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“Everyone should know that, by and large, we haven’t started anything yet in earnest,” Putin said at a meeting of parliamentary leaders on Thursday. He added “at the same time, we don’t reject peace talks. But those who reject them should know that the further it goes, the harder it will be for them to negotiate with us.”
Putin made claims the West is fueling hostilities by wanting to fight until the last Ukrainian is standing. “This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but it seems that everything is heading towards this,” he noted.
“Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. What can you say—let them try,” he rallied.
