Putin says European troop deployment in Ukraine would be ‘war against Russia’
The Russian president says his country has no intention of threatening or entering a conflict with European countries.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia cautioned on Friday that any deployment of European troops into Ukraine would be considered a war against Russia. He asserted that Moscow itself poses no threat to the European continent. Russian news outlets relayed his remarks, which were reportedly made in response to European leaders contemplating the possibility of sending troops onto Ukrainian soil.
Putin emphasized that Russia does not intend to threaten Europe, questioning the rationale behind such a move and stating that there is no reason for Russia to engage in conflict with Europe. He further clarified that the notion of an imaginary Russian threat against Ukraine is a fabrication perpetuated by European leaders, who are allegedly exploiting this fear to manipulate their populations.
The Russian president reiterated that Russia initiated a massive military operation against Ukraine in February 2022 and has consistently maintained that the presence of Western troops within Ukrainian territory constitutes a red line that must remain unbreached. Russia's justification for its invasion of Ukraine revolves around allegations of NATO's expansion towards its borders, a development that Kyiv actively seeks to join.
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Also reported by 3 other outlets
- European Commission allows Ukraine to buy Patriot missiles with EU loan originally restricted to European-made weapons meduza.io
- Putin says European troop deployment in Ukraine would be 'war against Russia' lemonde.fr
- European Troop Deployment In Ukraine Would Be "War Against Russia": Putin ndtv.com
