Putin at SPIEF Warns West “We Can Respond Asymmetrically,” Offers Development Policy to Global South

June 6—Russian President Vladimir Putin had an 3-plus-hour-long question-and-answer session with “international media” yesterday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to Russian media. The collective “interview” is an unusual event in this dangerous period.

Putin said that Russia had “no illusions” that Ukrainian troops using NATO-supplied long-range weapons were acting independently; “the U.S. and its allies are providing the intelligence and targeting information,” the Russian President said. And he added that Russia will respond by boosting air defenses and destroying these longer-range missiles, RT quoted him. “If it is considered possible to supply such weapons to the war zone to strike our territory … why shouldn’t we supply similar weapons to those regions of the world, where they will be used against sensitive sites of these countries. We can respond asymmetrically.” Later he added, “This is a recipe for very serious problems.”

This warning of Russian asymmetric response is carried today in media around the world, which ponder what it might mean. A intelligence source says that CIA Director William Burns has personally warned President "Sleepy Joe" Biden not to listen to advisors who have told him that NATO orchestrating Ukraine attacks on the Russia homeland can in any way rescue the losing situation on the battlefield: "Burns, unlike the people at State and in game-playing environs of the Defense establishment, knows that Russia and Putin won't engage in some kind bluff and chicken game. When Putin warns that they will respond, he needs to be taken seriously. He is not a stupid politician. He is an intelligence professional and he does not play games. If you play Risk with him, you will lose, because he won't play by your stupid risk and system analysis rules. The Ukraine is lost, no matter what. Better to make the subtle moves needed to get rid of that punk [putative Ukraine President] Zelenskyy and work out a peace with some honor. But who knows if these clowns are listening. State and the [Joint] Chiefs and their fool advisors are handling this. They have Burns over in the Mideast trying  force a peace deal down the throat of what some here call the 'Jewish Hitler,' [Israeli Prime Minister]Bibi Netanyahu and his collection of crazies." 

Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile announced that Putin will speak to the SPIEF plenary on June 7, according to Sputnik][(https://sputnikglobe.com/20240604/spief-2024-what-will-be-on-forums-radar-1118763843.html). “This year, President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech at the forum on June 7, which will also see his ‘international contacts’ during the event, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov,” Sputnik reported. “He added that those taking part in the forum’s plenary sessions, roundtables and panel discussions will exchange views on ways ‘to promote international cooperation, encourage scientific and technological progress as well as effectively tackle the challenges we [the international community] face…. A growing part of the international community is in favor of building a just and democratic system of international relations based on the principles of genuine equality, consideration for each other’s legitimate interests, and respect for the cultural and civilizational diversity of nations.’”