Putin Warns European NATO Troop Deployment to Ukraine Would Mean Direct War with Russia
Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the deployment of troops from European NATO member states to Ukraine would amount to direct war between NATO countries and Russia, while attributing growing political shifts across Europe to increasing public dissatisfaction with the policies of the continent’s leadership.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday, Putin said Europe’s current political and economic difficulties were the result of what he described as “systemic mistakes” by its leaders in foreign policy, security and economic policy following the end of the Cold War.
Putin argued that Western political elites had become convinced that they were incapable of making mistakes, while the consequences of their policies had accumulated over time. He particularly cited NATO’s eastward expansion and Western efforts to bring Ukraine into the alliance as among the factors Moscow considers central to the conflict.
According to Putin, European governments are now warning their populations about what Moscow considers an alleged Russian threat, while simultaneously pursuing policies that could bring Europe closer to a direct confrontation with Russia.
“We are not threatening and are not going to threaten European countries. Why would we?” Putin said, while warning that proposals by several European NATO members to deploy military personnel to Ukraine could fundamentally change the situation.
He said that discussions about sending troops into Ukrainian territory would constitute a direct confrontation with Russia.
Moscow has repeatedly opposed the deployment of NATO personnel in Ukraine, including under proposed security guarantees or peacekeeping arrangements. Russian officials have also argued that a temporary halt in hostilities without a broader settlement could provide Ukrainian forces with an opportunity to rebuild their capabilities.
Putin further suggested that European voters were increasingly aware of the potential consequences of current policies. He said growing public dissatisfaction was reflected in political developments across the continent, including recent electoral gains by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany’s regional politics.
While declining to comment directly on Germany’s domestic political affairs, Putin said broader political trends across Europe appeared to demonstrate growing dissatisfaction with the policies and direction pursued by the continent’s current leadership.
