Putin says Europe is 'preparing for war'
As the West continues to denounce Russian aggression in Ukraine and to support Kyiv with a host of economic and military measures, Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Nato is expanding its reach and influence with the intention of preparing for war with Russia. Analysis by Dr Alexander Titov, lecturer in Modern European History at Queen's University Belfast in the UK.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Europe of potential retaliation and accused Ukraine of being unwilling to resume peace talks, calling the strengthening of the nuclear triad a priority.
Putin stated that some European leaders are openly preparing for war with Russia and conducting military exercises, including drills simulating the seizure of civilian ships. He emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence and warned of potential retaliation if hostilities continue.
Putin also highlighted NATO's expansion as one of Russia's main threats, stating that the alliance is growing and encroaching upon new regions. Despite claiming that Russia has no aggressive intentions towards European countries, Putin accused Ukrainian top leadership of attempting to prevent negotiations and peace.
The Kremlin leader explained that Russia's new state armaments program prioritizes strengthening the nuclear triad, which is crucial for maintaining national sovereignty and the global balance of power. Over 92% of Russia's modern strategic missile forces are deployed in accordance with this priority.
Putin further emphasized the importance of improving the air defense system to neutralize any threats from air and space attacks. He also highlighted the development of unmanned robotic systems and high-precision weapons as key areas of focus in the new state armaments program.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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