Putin ally says Russia and the West can’t mutually coexist

Vladimir Solovyov, prominent Russian propagandist and staunch ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that there “can be no mutual coexistence” between Russia and Western nations.

Solovyov is the host of political programs on Kremlin-controlled television and radio. He is also well-known for making controversial statements, such as suggesting during a recent broadcast of his television show that Germany will eventually exist “under a Russian flag.” Last month, Solovyov also made headlines when he warned of a new world war that would see the West pitted against Muslims all over the world.

Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, on Monday posted a translated clip on X, formerly Twitter, of Solovyov recently discussing what he characterized as Russia’s long-running conflict with the West on his radio show.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the White House via email for comment Thursday night.

“We need to recognize the West is our enemy—systemic, centuries-old, millennia-old, existential. There can be no mutual coexistence,” Solovyov said, according to Gerashchenko’s translation.

The Russian broadcaster then called on his countrymen to be vigilant as he detailed what he feels is a long struggle between Russia and the Western world.

“We can be so strong that they have to bite their filthy tongues, or as soon as we weaken, they will try to destroy us, as they have done every century. Any games with them weaken us,” he said.

Solovyov continued: “We should only act out of expediency. There is no need to change their minds or to please them. We just need to realize that they are the enemy. Systemic, well-trained, motivated, convinced. Which means we have to fight for minds. Not theirs, but ours.”

The U.S. State Department has detailed Solovyov’s efforts to spread disinformation from the Kremlin. In a list identifying well-known figures involved in Russian propaganda published on its website in 2022, the State Department described Solovyov as perhaps “the most energetic Kremlin propagandist around today.”

During the course of Russia’s war with Ukraine, which is now in its 21st month, Solovyov has advocated multiple times for Moscow to make use of its nuclear capabilities against the countries that back Ukraine.

He has also said the Kremlin should unleash a nuclear strike on any country that would attempt to detain Putin over the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in March for alleged war crimes.