In a Dec. 17 meeting with the Defense Ministry Board, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that NATO countries are gearing up for war and Europeans are being indoctrinated to believe that war with Russia is inevitable. Meanwhile, it is only through a joint approach to security that peace can be assured.
“NATO countries are actively building up and modernising their offensive forces, and creating and deploying new types of weapons, including in outer space,” said the Russian president, who added “people in Europe are being indoctrinated with fears of an inevitable confrontation with Russia, with claims that preparations must be made for a major war.”
Instead of war, joint security is required: “We continue to call for developing mutually beneficial and equal cooperation with the United States and European countries, and for creating a joint security system in the Eurasian region. We welcome nascent progress in our dialogue with the new US administration, which cannot be said of the current leaders of the majority of European countries.”
