Putin's 'red line' warning: Russia eyes conflict with NATO
Putin warns that Western aid to Ukraine is reaching a "red line" for Russia. "The Ministry of Defense of Russia must be ready for any development of events, including a possible military conflict with NATO," said Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Russian Ministry of Defence on Monday.
Many pieces of information provided by Russian media or government representatives are elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war conducted by the Russian Federation.
- The Ministry of Defense of Russia must be ready for any development of events, including a possible military conflict with NATO in Europe in the next decade - said Russian Defence Minister Belousov.
Russian threats emerged as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for a swift end to the fighting. "We’re trying to get the war stopped, that horrible, horrible war that’s going on in Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine. We’re going to get a little progress. It’s a tough one, it’s a nasty one, it’s nasty," he said on Monday.
Trump added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "should be prepared to make a deal." However, Moscow showed no signs of readiness to give up the war, which had started almost three years ago.
Threat to NATO
Belousov said that Russia has taken the initiative in the fighting and aims to have the full conquest of the Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Donetsk regions by next year. He stated that Ukrainian forces are exhausted, and the Russian army is advancing rapidly on all fronts. He added that Russia managed to recruit over 427,000 soldiers this year - an average of 1,200 daily.
He also warned that Russia must prepare to fight with NATO due to the threat from the alliance. "This is evidenced by the decisions that were taken at the North Atlantic alliance summit held in July this year. It is also reflected in the doctrinal documents of the U.S. and other NATO countries," the minister stated.
Putin on the "red line"
Meanwhile, Putin blamed the US for "scaring people with a mythical Russian threat" while sending "instructors" to assist Ukraine.
- Due to this, Russia is approaching the red line, through which it can no longer retreat and begins to respond," said Putin. He blamed NATO for tensions with the West. "NATO countries increase military spending and presence near Russian borders. The number of American servicemen in Europe has already exceeded 100,000," Putin said.
