Ukraine latest news: Biden doubts Putin’s nuclear intent – as expert warns conflict could last 50 years | World News

President Vladimir Putin has described the missile strikes as a response
to “terrorist” attacks by Ukraine – notably Saturday’s blast that damaged Russia’s bridge to Crimea (which Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for).

War hawks in Russia had been demanding for weeks that Mr Putin
escalate the conflict, so many of them hailed Monday’s attacks.

Putin loyalist leader of Russia’s
Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, who recently called for military commanders to
be sacked, said he was now 100% behind the strategy. 

Margarita Simonyan, head of RT, Russia’s state-run overseas
media channel, said Moscow had been waiting for the perfect time
to demonstrate its strength. 

Quoting a proverb, she tweeted: “A
Russian harnesses his horses slowly but drives them quickly.” 

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Mr Putin’s advisory security
council, said Russia would now be able to widen its objectives:
“The goal of our future actions, in my view, should be the
complete dismantling of the political regime of Ukraine.”