During a ceremony at the Kremlin attended by military academy graduates, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Tuesday that NATO is actively preparing for a war against Russia. He noted that previously, NATO members focused primarily on supporting Ukraine, but there is now open discussion in the West about preparing for conflict with Russia and increasing military budgets.
Putin contended that NATO and EU states justify their military buildup with false claims regarding a military threat from Russia. He mentioned that currently, around 40% of Russia’s budget is allocated to military spending, equipment, and security. However, according to Putin, Moscow advocates for a multipolar system of international relations that ensures each country’s military security.
“At the same time, we are ready to respond operationally and appropriately to all internal and external threats,” he warned. Putin also expressed Russia’s willingness to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine based on the outcomes achieved in Istanbul in 2022.
In a separate meeting with Russian government officials, Putin accused Ukraine of attacking civilian targets within Russia, attributing this to Ukraine’s loss of territory. He instructed authorities to take measures to mitigate the impact of Ukrainian attacks.
Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russia’s oil industry to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian military and reduce revenues from energy resource sales that finance the war. The situation has intensified, particularly in Crimea, a peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 and used as a critical military hub. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently stated that Ukraine plans to isolate Crimea through drone strikes.
