Rosenberg: Putin's veiled threat to UK part of Russia's campaign against West
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued veiled threats toward the UK and the West, suggesting potential retaliation for support provided to Ukraine. Analysts view this rhetoric as a psychological tactic intended to pressure Western nations while Russia continues its hybrid operations in Europe.
Why it matters
The escalation of rhetoric between Russia and Western powers increases the risk of miscalculation and potential direct conflict or intensified hybrid warfare.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Putin warned that "if anyone tries to drag us down the food chain, to gobble us up or devour us, they might get punched in the teeth"
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with one short sentence when asked at a press conference whether Moscow might strike military facilities in the UK in response to British arms supplies to Ukraine.
Military secret is not a "yes". And not a "no". It leaves us hanging.
Those two words feel like psychological pressure from the Kremlin: to keep Britain guessing - and stressing - over Moscow's intentions, as well as to encourage the UK to think twice about its staunch support for Ukraine.
It reminds me of a newspaper article I read a few days ago. Moskovsky Komsomolets had suggested that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham should be seeing Russia, not in his dreams, "but in his nightmares".
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