Putin bedroht den Westen, aber „die Anwendung der Rhetorik der „roten Linien“ durch den Kreml war äußerst widersprüchlich und untergräbt das gesamte russische Eskalationsnarrativ“: ISW

**Ivan Diakonov, [Ukrainska Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/11/22/7485761/)**:

*[ISW] Analysts believe that Putin’s 21 November statement proves that Moscow’s escalation rhetoric largely amounts to empty threats.*

**November 21 assessment, [ISW](https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-21-2024)**:

*[…] Putin’s November 21 statement demonstrates that Moscow’s constant saber-rattling largely remains rhetorical.*

*Putin’s recent threats against the West have centered on Western states allowing Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes into “Russian territory,” but Ukrainian forces have been striking what the Kremlin illegally defines as “Russian territory” for a long time.*

*The Kremlin has illegally defined occupied Crimea as part of Russia since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, and Ukrainian forces have routinely struck Crimea with US-provided ATACMS and UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles since April 2023.[7]*

*The Kremlin’s application of its “red lines” rhetoric has been wildly inconsistent, undermining the overall Russian escalation narrative.[8] Putin consistently escalates the war on his own without regard to Western decisions and has consistently declined to retaliate every time Western states have deepened their support of Ukraine.*

*Putin previously threatened severe retaliation if Western states provided Ukraine with rocket artillery, tanks, warplanes, and the ability to strike into Russia, and Putin has constantly shifted the goalposts every time the West has called Putin’s bluff. […]*

>Putin be runnin his mouth and talkin some shit, but he a bitch

– ISW

The only red line that matters is the border of Ukraine’s territory, which muscovy breached in 2012. Everything else is just annoying barking of a dog that should be removed before it craps too much on Ukraine’s property.