Oscar Williams-Grut· Senior City Correspondent, Yahoo Finance UK
Wed 27 January 2021
Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks to participants of the the World Economic Forum via a video link, Wednesday 27 January 2021. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Society risks a return of world wars without a concerted international effort to avoid it, Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned.
During a special address at the World Economic Forum’s virtual Davos Agenda conference on Wednesday, Putin said there were parallels between the current era and the 1920s and 1930s, a period that led to the “catastrophic World War II.”
“Nowadays such a heated conflict is not possible, I hope,” Putin said. “Because it will mean the end of our civilisation.
“But I’d like the reiterate that the situation might develop unpredictably and uncontrollably if we sit on our hands doing nothing to avoid it. There’s a possibility that we might experience an actual collapse in global development that might result in a fight of all against all.”
Putin labelled such an outcome would result in a “grim dystopia.”
The risk of a return to war has developed over many years due to issues such as inequality, growing political radicalisation, and growing international tensions, he said.
“International institutions are weakening, regional conflicts are multiplying, the global security system is degrading,” Putin said.
COVID-19 had exacerbated all of these problems, he said.
The Russian president called for more international dialogue and cooperation to combat the world’s issues.
“We need ensure development following a different path — one that is positive, balanced and constructive,” he said.
He also warned countries away from unilateral actions such as sanctions and embargoes. Multiple countries have issued sanctions against Russia.
“The use of trade barriers, illegitimate sanctions, restrictions in the financial, technological and information spheres — such a game without rules is dramatically increasing the risks of the unilateral use of military force, which is very dangerous,” Putin said.
The Russian president held his first call with new US president Joe Biden on Tuesday. The pair agreed an extension to the New START nuclear weapons treaty, which was due to expire next month. Putin called the move a “step in the right direction.”
As well as calling for a strengthening of international institutions and cooperation, Putin used his speech to call for a reigning in of the power of Big Tech.
“How well does this monopolism correlate with the public interest?” he said. “Where is the distinction between successful global businesses, sought after services, and big data consolidation on the one hand, and the efforts to rule society in a rude and self-serving manner by substituting for legitimate democratic institutions, by encroaching on or restricting the national right of people to decide for themselves how to live, what to chose and what view to express freely on the other hand.
“We have seen all of this just recently in the United States and everyone understands quite well what I’m talking about and I’m sure that the majority of people share this view.”
Why was this poisonous troll allowed to speak at this event and issue veiled threats?
What a stack 9 miles high of steaming, stinking projection! I could go line by line and show that this POS is projecting and acting like he’s innocent of everything he’s complaining about. How can anyone with an ounce of logic believe this psychopath?
“International institutions are weakening, (because of YOU!) regional conflicts are multiplying, (because of YOU!) the global security system is degrading (because of YOU!),” Putin said.
As long as US elections are rigged and the media keeps spreading fake news and warnings about a new Hitler, there will be no war. 😉
Seriously, this invading, thieving, murderous POS and his chicom buddies are the only threat to world peace. Since Biden is in office Putin’s mouth is getting bigger. Just an observation.
China: We released that bat virus, what are you gonna do about it?
West: Increase trade with you.
Russia: We invaded Ukraine, Georgia, poisoned Skripal and Navalny, hacked your elections and bombed kids in Syria, what are you gonna do about it?
West: Increase trade with you, build a pipeline.
Turkey: We murdered kurds, sponsored ISIS and imprisoned the opposition, what you gonna do about it?
West: Increase trade with you. Recommend you for EU membership.
Saudi Arabia: We sponsored terrorism and killed Kashoggi, what are you gonna do about it?
West: Increase trade with you, import more oil.
Welcome to the new millenium! The scum of the world has taken over! Time for a global revolution!
“Russia is part of Europe, both geographically and most importantly in a cultural sense. In fact, we’re one civilization.”
“If we can rise above the problems and get rid of phobias, then a positive phase in our relations awaits. […] We need to return to a positive agenda, that is Russia’s interest. […] But one-sided love is impossible.”
This is from another article. A small part of Russia is Europe, the vast majority is in Eurasia, and no part of Russia has culture connected to Europe.
As for phobias, there wouldn’t be any if Muscovy was a civilized country, instead of being a state sponsor of terrorism. Murdering all and sundry because they tell the truth about the shortassed wannabee Stalin, is not going to make friends, except in the useless PACE organisation, and other shithole countries.
“Putin said there were parallels between the current era and the 1920s and 1930s, a period that led to the ‘catastrophic World War II.”’
There are indeed parallels but they are not like the rug rat thinks. The parallels are that a filthy dick-tator is again being appeased, even after stealing land and starting wars. But, this appeasement is committed by multiple Chamberlains.
What people forget about Neville Chamberlain is that he tried appeasement once: over Sudetenland; a place that almost no one in Britain even knew existed. But he did actually declare war very shortly afterwards, when hitler and his ally stalin simultaneously invaded Poland from the west and east. So historically he can’t go down as an appeaser because he had the guts to go it alone against two enormous tyrannies. At that time, the stalin-lover FDR had no intention of getting involved. And never would have were it not for two events: Pearl Harbour and Operation Barbarossa.
In short, Chamberlain was an honourable man. Unlike FDR, who much preferred stalin to Churchill. When he did finally go into action, it took another 2 years before D Day was possible. If he had pitched in straight away in 1939, the war at least in Europe would have been all over much more quickly.
Incidentally, FDR gave stalin $billions without any expectation of repayment. In truth hardly any of it was repaid. Whereas Britain paid it all off in full. It took more than 50 years. With no help from the European nations we liberated and no compensation from them to us or the Americans for the blood and treasure we lost in liberating the fucking French.
I never doubted Neville Chamberlain’s honor. He tried his best to avoid war and this must be seen as a good thing.
However, in my opinion, Chamberlain’s faults began before Sudentland. He (and France) just stood by as Hitler ordered the remilitarization of the Rheinland. Germany was by then still much too weak to have been able to resist a concerted effort by Britain and France to stop this. They also simply watched as Germany began rearming and increasing the size of its military. Furthermore, the Anschluß with Austria was also tolerated. Then came Sudetenland and finally Poland, which was the last straw, so to speak.
The US played no role in the early stages of these happenings. Although Roosevelt had a keen interest in foreign policy, he was stifled by a neutral-loving Congress. Yes, he did have a warm relationship with Stalin (Trump and Pew-tin come to mind). But, Roosevelt also saw the danger looming on the horizon. This is from Britannica: “Roosevelt accepted the neutrality laws but at the same time warned Americans of the danger of remaining isolated from a world increasingly menaced by the dictatorial regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan. Speaking in Chicago in October 1937, he proposed that peace-loving nations make concerted efforts to quarantine aggressors.” Maybe Chamberlain could have convinced Congress and the American people of the need to stop Hitler, maybe not. But, he didn’t even try. For sure, he should have gotten together with France. France was in immediate danger. Why this didn’t happen and why everyone just watched Hitler grow stronger will forever be a mystery.
Having said that, it is unfortunate that Chamberlain will always be associated with appeasement, but this is a fact. Trying to stop a conflict is an honorable thing to do and he deserves this honor but sometimes you must go that route to stop someone as filthy as Hitler.
Agreed. In fact Chamberlain had lobbied then Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to re-arm in 1935, but Baldwin refused. Therefore by the time he took office in 1937, he had to start re-arming from scratch. It was thanks to his efforts that Churchill was able to inherit a functional military in 1940. So poor old Chamberlain is given a raw deal by historians. Thank fuck we didn’t have a Labour govt at that time!
By 1944, Churchill had an armed forces of 3.5 million personnel to call upon.
I never tire of repeating my view that Poro is Ukraine’s Churchill and should be leading a military dictatorship until such time that Russia renounces fascist imperialism and leaves its neighbours alone. Unfortunately it seems that Ukrainians do not share this view.
To be truthful, after the TV clown was elected president, I’ve been confused as to what the Ukrainians really want. At any rate, I agree that Poro is Ukraine’s Churchill. The country fared well under his presidency, despite some shortcomings. But, in retrospect, he was world’s better than Zelensky. I hope that the Ukrainian people see it the same way. Those that I know, do.