Putin threatens:

Putin threatens:

1) to blockade the Baltic Sea like the Strait of Hormuz;

2) to use nuclear weapons if he fails to bring about Ukraine's elimination.

"Many people talk of nothing but preparing for war by 2030. First of all, we are ready, but we do not want any war with Europe. And if anyone wants one, let them prepare. But they have not achieved their goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia now, and it is unlikely to be possible by 2030, and if things go too far, there will be no winners at all. Let no one forget that.

As for the situation in the Baltic, it was said that Finland, like many other European countries, hopes that international maritime law will be observed. We support that approach. Otherwise, the situation will be similar to the one in the Strait of Hormuz. What, does anyone want the Baltic to end up in the same situation as the Persian Gulf? We don't want that, but we will respond to any challenge."

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Let me explain once again.

For him, a "strategic defeat" is any status quo that does NOT entail Ukraine's capitulation and subsequent elimination.

In other words, any freeze, truce or ceasefire is a strategic defeat for him.

So, in effect, this is what he's saying: you couldn't stop us now, and it's unlikely you'll be able to do so by 2030, and if things go too far, there will be no winners, because we'll use nukes.

I'm saying this here for one purpose: Europe must be READY for him to use nukes if he cannot eliminate Ukraine through conventional means. This is now the baseline scenario.