The Daily Populous Friday March 28th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by lbc.co.uk and submitted by Aks_2497

Putin vows to 'finish off' Ukraine and mocks size of British army after 'reassurance force' announced

Putin has vowed to 'finish off' Ukraine. Picture: Getty

Vladimir Putin has vowed to "finish off" Ukraine and mocked the size of the British army after a "reassurance force" was announced.

Listen to this article Loading audio...

Putin made the remarks while aboard a new nuclear submarine during a visit to an Arctic naval base on Thursday.

He claimed Russian forces have the "strategic initiative" along the Ukrainian front line and had reason to believe his army would "finish them off".

He also reaffirmed his claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal.

Any agreement that is signed with the current Ukrainian government could be challenged by its successors, he said, adding that new elections could be held under external governance.

Read more: Putin warns of Arctic war if US takes Greenland as Britain and France to send 'reassurance force' to Ukraine

Read more: Who could replace Putin: the bear-catching bodyguard, the ex-FSB chief or the 'Viceroy of the Donbas'?

Putin visits the Atomflot, a service base for nuclear-powered fleet, in Murmansk, Russia. Picture: Alamy

Putin attends a ceremonial ship launching for the nuclear-powered submarine Perm at the Atomflot. Picture: Alamy

"Not long ago I said we'd grind [Ukraine] down - now it looks like we'll finish them off," Putin told submariners.

He went on to say: "[Britain] is jumping on us, behaving aggressively... but their economy is, I think, in the ninth or tenth place in the world.

"Hence the armed forces - what is it, 170,000 or 180,000? That's all the armed forces of the UK!"

Putin speaks with crew members of the nuclear-powered submarine Arkhangelsk. Picture: Alamy

Putin speaks with crew members of the nuclear-powered submarine Arkhangelsk at the Atomflot. Picture: Alamy

It comes after Britain and France confirmed on Thursday that they are drawing up plans to send a "reassurance force" to Ukraine and will soon send military chiefs to the country to determine the scheme’s viability.

The British-French delegation heading to Ukraine will also be joined by a team from Germany, with Starmer saying Britain is "ready" to to come up with an "operational" deal.

"We will be ready to operationalise a peace deal whenever its precise shape turns out to be, and we will work together to ensure Ukraine’s security so it can defend and deter against the future," Starmer said.

However, not all European allies of Ukraine agree on the proposed deployment of an armed force in the country.

"It is not unanimous," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "We do not need unanimity to achieve it."

Macron went on to say: "There will be a reassurance force with several European countries that will deploy."

French President Emmanuel Macron Hosts 'Coalition Of The Willing' Summit In Support Of Ukraine. Picture: Getty

Putin previously issued a stark warning to Nato countries too, declaring that Russia is ready to protect its land in the arctic if Donald Trump goes ahead with his plan to purchase Greenland.

"It would be a grave mistake to think that this is just some eccentric talk of the new American administration, nothing of the kind," he said.

He added that the US had previously drawn up plans to take Greenland in the nineteenth century, but these were abandoned.

"Those plans have deep historic roots and it is obvious that the US will continue to promote their geopolitical, military and economic interests in the Arctic.

"As for Greenland, I think that this is an issue that concerns two states and has nothing to do with us.

"However, we are concerned by the fact that the Nato countries increasingly identify the far north as a foothold for possible conflicts."

Donald Trump has insisted the United States will take over Greenland, which is currently controlled by Denmark while having its own government, since entering office in January.

Kontrafantastisk on March 28th, 2025 at 11:52 UTC »

"He also reaffirmed his claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal."

Amazing how a dictator suddenly cares so much about democratic values like (real) elections. Scumbag.

MarlonShakespeare2AD on March 28th, 2025 at 11:42 UTC »

Putin HATES Britain

I take pride in that

Fuck Putin

Alternative-Duty4774 on March 28th, 2025 at 11:36 UTC »

The guy who needs North Korean soldiers and Russian prisoners to shore up his army is mocking the Brits.