Putin: NATO is a tool in Washington’s hands, and we will respond if it deploys forces in Sweden and Finland
On June 29th, Russian President Vladimir Putin considered that the West’s call to continue fighting in Ukraine proves that their goal is not its interest but to protect its interests.
Putin said that NATO is an instrument of US policy and that Russia will respond if the alliance deploys its forces in Sweden and Finland.
Putin said during a press conference in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on the sidelines of the sixth Caspian Summit: “NATO’s preparations to confront Russia have been in place since 2014 and are not new to Moscow,”
Regarding the possibility of Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, Putin pointed out that this process will not bother Moscow and that Russia does not have any problems with Sweden and Finland if they join.
Putin said that at the same time that Russia will have to respond if NATO forces are deployed in the two mentioned countries.
On the special military operation in Ukraine, Putin stressed that liberating Donbass, protecting its people, and achieving Russia’s self-security is its ultimate goal.
“The Russian army is moving and reaching the lines that were drawn to achieve the goal of the combat operations, and everything is going according to plan,” Putin added.
Regarding the allegations of Russia targeting a market in Kremenchug, Baltava region, Putin said: “There is no terrorist act and we have clarified this from different sources.”
Putin said that the Russian army does not target civilian areas, but rather targets weapons sites with accurate weapons.
- al-Mohamm