Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Moscow issues stark threats to the West
FirstpostDmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, also warned that Moscow could restore the death penalty after Russia was removed from Europe’s top rights group Moscow: Moscow may respond to Western sanctions by opting out of the last nuclear arms deal with the US, cutting diplomatic ties with Western nations and freezing their assets, a senior Russian official warned Saturday as Russia’s ties with the West dived to new lows over its invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, also warned that Moscow could restore the death penalty after Russia was removed from Europe’s top rights group — a chilling statement that shocked human rights activists in a country that hasn’t had capital punishment for a quarter-century. Medvedev also raised the prospect of cutting diplomatic ties with Western countries, charging that “there is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations” and adding that “we may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.” Referring to Western threats to freeze the assets of Russian companies and individuals, Medvedev warned that Moscow wouldn’t hesitate to do the same. “The most interesting things are only starting now.” Commenting on the Council of Europe’s move Friday to suspend Russia’s representation in Europe’s leading human rights organization, Medvedev contemptuously described it as one of “useless nursing homes” that Russia mistakenly joined.