Putin rejects 'nonsense' fear that Russia will attack Nato, heaps praise on Trump

Amid the brewing tension in Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to retaliate against Europe’s “escalating militarisation”. However, he dismissed “nonsense” Western allegations that Moscow is planning to attack Nato.

In his televised speech in Sochi on Thursday, the Russian leader warned that he is closely monitoring the developing situation in Europe. “We are closely monitoring the escalating militarisation of Europe … We simply cannot ignore what is happening. We have no right to do so for reasons of our own security," Putin said.

“I think no one doubts that Russia’s countermeasures will not be long in coming,” he added. The Russian president was speaking at the Valdai plenary session, an annual gathering of officials and foreign policy experts where Putin often sets out his views on global affairs. It is pertinent to note that Putin’s remarks on the matter came as 45 European leaders gathered in Copenhagen for a summit aimed at bolstering support for Ukraine.

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The European leaders have also been eyeing the accelerated defence projects intended to ensure the continent is capable of deterring the Russian aggression. The summit in Denmark followed turbulent weeks in which several European countries reported Russian drone and jet incursions, raising fears that Moscow was testing Nato’s defence capabilities.

Putin attempts to please Trump

While dismissing Nato plans, the Russian president threatened Europe and struck a conciliatory tone towards US President Donald Trump. In what appeared to be an attempt to win back Trump’s favour, Putin lavished praise on him, claiming that “if Trump had been in power, the conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided” – a line the US president has often used himself in public speeches.

What is interesting is the fact that Putin’s praise for Trump came just days after the American leader’s recent disparaging remarks about him, where he proclaimed that Ukraine can win back its territory. Both Moscow and Kyiv have spent months trying to court Trump over the war in Ukraine, as the US leader has repeatedly shifted his stance.

In his Thursday speech, Putin described Trump as a “comfortable interlocutor” who knows “how to listen” and said Moscow was seeking a “full-scale restoration” of relations with the US, praising Trump’s administration for its “directness and lack of hypocrisy”.

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Putin also responded to Trump’s “ paper tiger” jab, suggesting that the remark might have been ironic, saying: “If we are comfortable being at war with the whole Nato bloc, but we’re a paper tiger, then what is Nato?”

Overall, Putin’s tone was harsher towards Europe, with the Russian leader blaming “European elites” for obstructing peace in Ukraine and “whipping up hysteria” in the region.

“It turns out that war with the Russians is practically on the doorstep. They repeat this nonsense, this mantra, over and over again … They can’t believe what they’re saying, that Russia is going to attack NATO? They’re either incredibly incompetent if they truly believe it, because it’s impossible to believe this nonsense, or they’re simply dishonest," he said.

Putin concluded his address by claiming that Ukraine was suffering far greater losses than Russia – even though Western estimates put Russian casualties at close to a million, higher than Ukraine’s. “Given Ukraine’s losses, Kyiv should think seriously about starting negotiations,” he averred.

With inputs from agencies.