LONDON — President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday issued a warning to Russians he described as traitors and said the West wanted to try to use them as a "fifth column" to destroy the country.
The Kremlin leader assailed Russians who he said were more mentally aligned with the West than Russia and said the Russian people would quickly be able to tell the difference between traitors and patriots.
"Of course they (the West) will try to bet on the so-called fifth column, on traitors – on those who earn their money here, but live over there. Live, not in the geographical sense, but in the sense of their thoughts, their slavish thinking," he said.
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Addressing government ministers nearly three weeks into Russia’s war in Ukraine, Putin angrily attacked the West and those Russians he said were abetting it.
"The collective West wants to divide our society… to provoke civil confrontation in Russia and to use its fifth column to strive to achieve its aim. And there is one aim – the destruction of Russia," he said.
That aim would not be achieved, he said.
"Any people, and especially the Russian people, will always be able to distinguish the true patriots from the scum and the traitors, and just to spit them out like a midge that accidentally flew into their mouths," he continued.
"I am convinced that this natural and necessary self-cleansing of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to meet any challenge.
Putin made the comments at a government meeting broadcast on national television to discuss measures of economic support after the West imposed an unprecedented wave of sanctions on Russia for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
Officials in Russia describe Moscow’s offensive as a "special military operation." Thousands of people have been detained in Russia while protesting against the war.
RELATED IMAGESview larger image
In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting on measures of socio-economic support of the regions via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)
