Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered sharp remarks on a range of issues—from the economy, the war in Ukraine, and nuclear defense to the growing drone anxiety across Europe. He warned that if energy supplies are disrupted, global oil prices could soar above $100 per barrel. Putin also launched scathing criticism at U.S. policies, Western military aid to Ukraine, and NATO’s ongoing activities.
Speaking at a foreign policy forum in Sochi on Thursday, Putin accused Europe of “drifting further into militarization.” He stressed that Russia would be compelled to take “serious and tough” measures in response. The NATO narrative of a looming Russian attack, he argued, was nothing more than “baseless propaganda.”
According to Putin, NATO allies are already engaged in a war against Russia. “They don’t even believe themselves that Russia will attack NATO. If they did, then they are utterly incompetent. And if they don’t, then they are simply spreading lies,” he said.
Putin’s frustration over Europe’s military ambitions was particularly evident when he cited Germany’s recent declaration that its army should become Europe’s most powerful force. Warning against such rhetoric, he vowed that Russia would never show weakness and is closely monitoring all developments.
Tensions between Russia and the European Union have escalated significantly since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This has prompted European nations to strengthen their defenses amid growing fears that the war could spill beyond Ukraine’s borders—fueled by reports of drone sightings over Denmark and airspace violations in Estonia and Poland.
NATO and Ukraine have accused Moscow of deliberate incursions, but Russia has consistently denied such claims, dismissing them as “manufactured hysteria.” “They are deliberately spreading this scare to justify bigger defense budgets. Russia poses no threat calm down,” Putin remarked.
Source: Al Jazeera.