Moscow, Sep 12 (V7N)- Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the deployment of European troops to Ukraine would amount to a direct war with Russia.
Putin made the remarks on Friday (September 11), according to Anadolu Agency, citing Russia’s state-run TASS news agency.
Putin said European countries were pushing themselves toward a confrontation with Russia by discussing the deployment of troops to Ukraine.
“They are currently discussing sending troops to Ukraine, which implies war with Russia,” Putin said, accusing Western countries of seeking to weaken or destroy Russia through Ukraine.
He further argued that the proposed deployment of European forces would represent an attempt to undermine the Russian Federation, referring to what he described as past efforts involving terrorists and separatists in the Caucasus and, more recently, the Ukrainian government.
At the same time, Putin said Moscow had no intention of threatening European countries and questioned why Russia would seek such a confrontation.
“We have no intention of threatening European countries. Why would we do that?” Putin said, adding that there was “absolutely no basis for a conflict with Europe.”
His comments come amid continued discussions among European countries over security arrangements and possible troop deployments in Ukraine as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.
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