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Putin Says Russia is Not Preparing Conflict With Europe
Putin said Moscow has no plans for conflict with Europe and said Ukraine’s attacks on Russia have forced a sustained response.
On Friday in Saint Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied preparing for hostilities with Europe, asserting there are "no motives or grounds" for such a conflict amid regional security concerns.
European officials have recently warned of an intensifying Russian hybrid campaign involving sabotage and drone incursions, as Germany and Poland expressed concern that Moscow could target alliance territory during the war's fifth year.
Addressing the conflict, Putin claimed Ukraine launched provocative attacks on Moscow and polling stations, warning that Kyiv "should therefore be made to feel Russia's retaliatory strikes" for its actions.
While Putin noted that settlement proposals remain "on the table," he added that Russia must "give careful thought" to future diplomatic steps following recent attacks that undermined immediate prospects for negotiations.
Western allies remain skeptical of Moscow's peaceful intentions, with Russian officials maintaining they will not pause the "special military operation" even if formal discussions eventually resume.
The Russian president said that his country has no plans to enter into combat with Europe and called Western warnings about a possible Russian aggression “provocation”.
Kremlin accuses European governments of exaggerating the Russian threat while Moscow denounces dead and industrial damage in a new wave of Ukrainian attacks