Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would be a major step towards World War Three. He acknowledged that such a scenario is unlikely because nobody wants it.
The war in Ukraine has caused a severe strain in relations between Russia and the West, similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Putin has repeatedly warned about the possibility of nuclear war, but insists he has no plans to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that deploying ground troops in Ukraine is a possibility. Many Western countries are hesitant about such action, while Eastern European countries are more supportive.
When asked about Macron’s comments and the risk of conflict with NATO, Putin said anything is possible in the current world. He emphasized that a conflict between Russia and NATO would be a step towards World War Three, and that nobody wants that.
Putin also said that there are already NATO military personnel in Ukraine, claiming that Russia has intercepted English and French being spoken on the battlefield. He argued that this is not a good situation because these foreign fighters are dying in Ukraine.
Leading up to the recent Russian election, Ukraine increased attacks on Russia, including shelling border regions. Putin said that if these attacks continue, Russia may create a buffer zone by taking more Ukrainian territory. This zone would be large enough to prevent foreign weapons from reaching Russia.
Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, causing a major war in Europe. He said he believes France could help find peace and end the war, rather than making it worse. Putin says he is open to peace talks, but not if Ukraine simply wants a break to rearm themselves.
Putin criticized the US and Western criticism of the Russian election, calling US elections undemocratic. He also criticized the US treatment of Donald Trump.
When asked about opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison under mysterious circumstances, Putin avoided using his name and simply said that he had passed away. Putin claimed he had agreed to a prisoner swap deal involving Navalny shortly before his death, on the condition that Navalny would not return to Russia. Navalny’s widow accuses Putin of murdering him, but the Kremlin denies this.
