Putin to the West: ‘It is not us who threaten anyone’

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the West on Thursday to “immediately” meet Russia’s demand for safety ensures precluding NATO’s enlargement to Ukraine, saying the U.S. is “on the threshold of our home.”
Speaking throughout a marathon annual information convention, the Russian chief welcomed talks with the U.S., which he mentioned are set to start out in Geneva subsequent month, as a “positive” transfer, however warned that Moscow expects the dialogue to supply fast outcomes.
“We have clearly and precisely let them know that any further NATO expansion eastward is unacceptable,” Putin mentioned.
Last week, Moscow submitted draft safety paperwork demanding that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and different former Soviet international locations and roll again the alliance’s navy deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. A key precept of the alliance is that membership is open to any qualifying nation.
“Is it us who are putting missiles near the U.S. borders?“ Putin said angrily. “No, it’s the U.S. who came to our home with its missiles, it’s already on the threshold of our home. Is it some excessive demand not to place any strike weapons systems near our home?”
Moscow introduced its demand amid hovering tensions over a Russian troop buildup close to Ukraine that has stoked fears of a doable invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden warned Putin in a video name earlier this month that Russia will face “severe consequences” if it assaults Ukraine.

Russia has denied plans to launch an assault however has described a NATO enlargement and weapons deployment in Ukraine as a “red line.”
Asked Thursday if he may present a assure that Russia won’t invade Ukraine, Putin snapped in response: “It’s you who should give us ensures and provides them instantly, now, and never have idle discuss it for many years.“
“How would the Americans reply if we put our missiles on the U.S. borders with Canada or Mexico?“ he exclaimed.
The U.S. and its allies have mentioned they gained’t give Russia the sort of assure on Ukraine that Putin needs. American officers are conferring with European allies prematurely of the Geneva talks.
The Russian chief charged throughout his information convention that the West had “swindled, blatantly cheated” Moscow by providing verbal pledges within the Nineteen Nineties to not broaden NATO’s presence east after which enlarging to include former Soviet bloc international locations in Central and Eastern Europe and the ex-Soviet republics within the Baltics.

“They said they wouldn’t expand, and then they did expand,” he mentioned. “They said there would be equal guarantees for all, but there is no equal security. It seems to me sometimes that we live in different worlds.”
Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999, adopted in 2004 by Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the previous Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In subsequent years, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia additionally joined, bringing NATO’s membership to 30 nations.
“It’s not us who threaten anyone,“ Putin said. “Is it us who came to the U.S. or British borders or somewhere else? No, they have come to us, and now they say that Ukraine will be in NATO. Or they will just put bases and strike weapons there on a bilateral basis.”
He accused the West of attempting to make Ukraine “anti-Russia, constantly beefed up with modern weapons and brainwashing the population.”
Russia can’t preserve residing in anticipation of looming safety threats posed by doable deployment of Western weapons in Ukraine, Putin mentioned.
“Should Russia live constantly looking back at what’s going on and what new weapon systems are put there?” he exclaimed. “We need to think about ensuring our security.”
He argued that Western weapons may encourage hawkish forces in Ukraine to try to regain management over Russia-backed separatist areas by pressure and even attempt to reclaim Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The Russian chief claimed that Western expressions of concern about an alleged Russian invasion could possibly be a prelude to a doable try by Ukraine to launch an offensive towards the rebels within the east following two botched makes an attempt previously.
“There is an impression that they are preparing a third military operation and warning us not to meddle,” he mentioned.
Ukrainian officers have denied any intention to launch an offensive towards the separatists. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko mentioned Thursday that Putin’s declare about Kyiv making ready a navy operation is unfaithful.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned that “the only aggression at the border of Russia and Ukraine is the military buildup by the Russians and the bellicose rhetoric from the leader of Russia.”
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss additionally insisted that “NATO is a defensive alliance and Ukraine continues to show commendable restraint in the face of Russian provocation and aggression.”
“Any Russian incursion would be a massive strategic mistake and would be met with strength, including coordinated sanctions with our allies to impose a severe cost on Russia’s interests and economy,” Truss mentioned.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the state of affairs round Ukraine with Truss and so they “agreed on the importance of reinforcing coordinated support amongst allies and partners to impose consequences and costs for further Russian aggression towards Ukraine,” State Department spokesman Ned Price mentioned.
A senior White House official talking on situation of anonymity mentioned Thursday the U.S. was ready to extend help to Ukraine to assist it defend its territory and would reassure NATO allies of any change in posture along with financial sanctions if Russia invades its neighbor.
Shortly after annexing the Crimea, Moscow forged its help behind a separatist revolt in Ukraine’s east. The preventing over greater than seven years has killed greater than 14,000 folks and devastated Ukraine’s industrial heartland, often known as the Donbas.
Putin’s information convention lasted practically 4 hours and in addition coated a variety of home points. He dismissed criticism of Russia designating scores of crucial media and activists as “foreign agents,” a pejorative label that entails further authorities scrutiny and is meant to undermine the credibility of designees.
Asked about his prime political foe, imprisoned opposition chief Alexei Navalny, Putin once more rejected allegations that Russian authorities have been behind Navalny’s poisoning with a nerve agent final 12 months.
The Russian chief additionally dismissed arguments that Moscow was hoarding gasoline amid the EU vitality crunch to press for a fast approval of the newly-built Nord Stream 2 pipeline, saying that Russia’s Gazprom gasoline big has even overfulfilled its obligations beneath long-term contracts.
Putin, who is about to attend the Winter Olympics in China early subsequent 12 months, additionally criticized the U.S. political boycott of the Beijing Games, describing it as a mistake and a part of efforts by Washington to include China’s rising may.