M10News – Vladimir Putin has dismissed suggestions that Moscow intends to expand its military campaign beyond Ukraine, insisting Russia poses no threat to Europe.
Speaking in Beijing at a joint press conference with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, the Russian leader described Western warnings of aggression as “baseless.”
“Any sensible person realises that Russia has never had, does not have, and will not have the desire to attack anyone,” Putin said. He added that claims to the contrary were either “a provocation or incompetence.”
The remarks come amid heightened concerns in NATO states that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over into neighbouring countries, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Security analysts in the West have long argued that some within Moscow’s political elite still view parts of the former Soviet Union as territories that rightfully belong to Russia. This has fuelled fears that states such as Moldova or the Baltic nations could be targeted in the future.
Putin, however, rejected the notion that Russia harbours ambitions of territorial conquest. “This narrative is designed to stir fear and justify Western policies,” he said.
The Russian president also sought to draw a distinction between Ukraine’s European Union aspirations and its bid to join NATO. He insisted Moscow had “never opposed” Ukraine’s pursuit of EU membership.
“But NATO membership,” he warned, “is unacceptable. It crosses a red line for Russia’s security.”
The Kremlin has repeatedly argued that NATO’s eastward expansion threatens its national interests, a position that underpinned Moscow’s decision to launch its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin revealed that the matter was also raised during his recent talks with Donald Trump in Alaska. The meeting marked the former US president’s most direct engagement with Russia since leaving office, and was seen by many as a test of potential future diplomacy.
While Putin did not elaborate on the details of the discussion, he reiterated that NATO enlargement “remains the key obstacle” in relations between Moscow and the West.
Robert Fico, who has frequently criticised Western military aid to Kyiv, echoed Putin’s call for de-escalation. The Slovak prime minister stressed that “dialogue must replace confrontation.”
The comments come as Russia faces continued battlefield challenges in Ukraine, where Western-supplied weapons have bolstered Kyiv’s defences. At the same time, EU leaders are under pressure to reassure their citizens that Moscow does not pose an imminent threat to member states.
For Putin, the Beijing appearance offered both a symbolic show of unity with China and an opportunity to counter what he described as “false narratives” about Russia’s intentions.
