Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that Moscow would respond swiftly if Europe provokes it, claiming nearly all NATO members are engaged against Russia in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin said Russian forces are advancing along the front and dismissed Western claims of weakness.
“The elites of united Europe continue to whip up hysteria,” he said, urging European leaders to focus on domestic issues instead of fueling confrontation.
🚨 Putin makes fun of conspiracy theories about Russian drones supposedly flying over Europe https://t.co/VVPZN9HYHS pic.twitter.com/HS8mlkl5ND
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) October 2, 2025
Putin also rejected President Donald Trump’s characterization of Russia as a “paper tiger,” insisting that Russia has one of the world’s most capable armies.
Western leaders frame the war as an imperial-style land grab, vowing to ensure Russia’s defeat to prevent further aggression against NATO states.
Putin, however, portrays the conflict as the culmination of decades of Western encroachment on Moscow’s sphere of influence following the Soviet Union’s collapse.
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TIPP Staff
