In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning to the West on Monday, stating that a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance could lead to World War Three. However, he mentioned that hardly anyone desired such a catastrophic scenario. This statement comes amidst the ongoing Ukraine war which has significantly strained Moscow’s relations with the Western world.
Putin has frequently highlighted the dangers of nuclear war but has emphasized that he has not seen the necessity to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron raised the possibility of deploying ground troops in Ukraine, sparking mixed reactions from Western nations. Eastern European countries have shown more support for such actions.
Responding to Macron’s remarks and the potential risks of a conflict between Russia and NATO, Putin remarked, “everything is possible in the modern world.” He cautioned that a direct confrontation would bring the world dangerously close to a full-scale global conflict.
Highlighting the deployment of NATO military personnel in Ukraine, Putin revealed that Russian forces had intercepted communications in English and French on the battlefield. He expressed concern for the foreign troops, emphasizing that their presence was resulting in significant casualties.
Leading up to the recent Russian election, Ukraine intensified attacks on Russian border regions, even using proxies in attempts to breach Russian territory. When questioned about the necessity of taking Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, Putin suggested the creation of a buffer zone in additional Ukrainian territories if attacks persisted.
Putin refrained from providing specific details but implied that the zone might be substantial to prevent foreign weaponry from reaching Russian soil. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 sparked a major European conflict after years of tension in eastern Ukraine.
Putin expressed hope for France to collaborate in seeking peace in Ukraine rather than escalating the war further. Emphasizing the importance of peace talks for long-term stability, he criticized the enemy’s reliance on rearming for a temporary ceasefire.
Dismissing U.S. and Western criticism of the Russian election, Putin criticized American democracy and denounced the White House’s characterization of the election as unfair. He condemned the use of state power against former President Donald Trump.
Regarding the mysterious death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison, Putin acknowledged Navalny’s passing for one of the first times publicly. He mentioned approving a prisoner swap deal with Navalny days before his death, specifying that he had agreed on the condition that Navalny would not return.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia, accused Putin of orchestrating her husband’s death, a claim dismissed by the Kremlin. Putin denied any involvement in Navalny’s demise and iterated his stance on peaceful relations but criticized the U.S. for its perceived democratic shortcomings.
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge)
