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Putin accused some governments in Europe of creating fears of a possible Russian attack and using those concerns to prepare for a wider confrontation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is not preparing for any conflict with Europe, rejecting growing concerns among some NATO members that Russia could launch attacks against alliance territory.
Speaking to reporters in St Petersburg on Friday, Putin said Russia had “no real motive” to escalate tensions with European countries. He accused some governments of creating fears of a possible Russian attack and using those concerns to prepare for a wider confrontation.
“Many in Europe talk about expecting an attack from Russia and therefore believe they must themselves prepare for hostilities, for a war with Russia,” Putin said, adding that Moscow was “not preparing for any kind of hostilities with Europe”.
His comments came as several European countries have raised concerns about possible Russian sabotage, drone activity and other forms of covert action linked to the wider Ukraine conflict.
NATO Steps Up Response To Russian Threats
NATO has increased intelligence-sharing between member states following a series of incidents that the alliance suspects may be linked to Russia.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told Reuters on Thursday that the alliance was strengthening its response to what he described as a growing pattern of sabotage and other incidents.
Grynkewich said there was no need for panic, arguing that NATO had the capabilities and systems needed to deal with potential threats.
His comments followed a warning from Denmark’s defence intelligence service that Russia could increase its use of hybrid warfare against Western countries in the coming months. The assessment also pointed to a low but growing risk of a limited Russian military attack against one or more NATO members bordering Russia.
Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in sabotage or hybrid operations in NATO countries.
Putin Weighs Ukraine Peace Talks
Putin also addressed the possibility of restarting peace negotiations with Ukraine, saying proposals for renewed talks remained on the table.
However, he said Moscow would consider its response following recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory before deciding what steps to take.
“After everything they’ve done, we will give careful thought to what steps we need to take in response,” Putin said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Ask News18Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow is not preparing for any kind of conflict or hostilities with Europe, rejecting growing fears among NATO members. Putin accused certain European governments of manufacturing these threats to justify preparing for a wider war.
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September 26, 2026, 03:25 IST
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