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80 years on, Russia faces German tanks like WWII: Putin

UK, France and the US have helped Ukraine with ammunition in the war

Russia Ukraine War A Leopard 2 tank is pictured during a demonstration event held for the media by the German Bundeswehr in Munster near Hannover, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 | AP

Vladimir Putin, in a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad, said, 80 years on, we are facing German tanks again-- referring to the Leopard tanks Germany supplied the tanks to Ukraine to help defend their territory. Germany is one of the countries helping Ukraine against Russia's invasion. 

UK, France and the US have helped Ukraine with ammunition in the war. 

"Those who hope to defeat Russia on the battlefield do not understand, it seems, that a modern war with Russia will be very different for them," Putin told BBC. "We are not sending our tanks to their borders, but we have the means to respond. It won't be limited to the use of armoured hardware. Everyone must understand this," he added.

Stalingrad was the site of the World War II battle that put Nazi Germany on the path to defeat. One of the justifications Russia has reiterated for invading Ukraine is that Ukraine is led by neo-Nazis. 

Referring to Stalingrad to explain why he thought Russia would prevail, Putin said the WWII battle had become a symbol of 'the indestructible nature of our people'.

'Those who draw European countries, including Germany, into a new war with Russia, and ... expect to win a victory over Russia on the battlefield, apparently don't understand that a modern war with Russia will be quite different for them,' Putin said.

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