MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would not launch further wars after Ukraine if its interests are respected, dismissing Western warnings that Moscow plans to attack Europe as “nonsense.”
Speaking during his annual “Direct Line” televised event, which lasted more than four hours, Putin was asked by the BBC whether Russia could carry out new “special military operations,” the Kremlin’s term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“There won’t be any operations if you treat us with respect, if you respect our interests just as we’ve always tried to respect yours,” he said.
Putin added that Russia would refrain from further invasions if the West did not “cheat” Moscow, repeating his long-standing claim that the expansion of NATO violated assurances allegedly given to the Soviet Union in 1990 — a claim disputed by Western officials and later denied by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
The broadcast took place as fighting continued in Ukraine. Just hours after the event, Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian missile strike killed seven people and injured 15 in the southern Odesa region.
The Kremlin said more than three million questions were submitted by citizens and journalists for the televised forum, which mixed public grievances, economic issues and foreign policy. Some critical comments appeared on screen, including complaints about rising prices, internet outages and public services.
Putin acknowledged economic pressures, including inflation and a slowing growth rate, as Russia’s central bank announced a cut in interest rates to 16 percent. He defended the country’s economic resilience, a recurring theme of the annual address.
On Ukraine, Putin again said he was “ready and willing” to end the war peacefully, but reiterated demands previously outlined in mid-2024. These include Ukrainian forces withdrawing from four regions partially occupied by Russia and Kyiv abandoning its bid to join NATO. He also repeated Moscow’s demand for control over eastern Donbas, including parts of the Donetsk region still held by Ukraine.
Putin dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to the front line and claimed Russian forces were advancing, while Ukrainian officials continue to deny Moscow’s battlefield claims.
The Russian leader also said he supported peace efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump, but accused Western countries and European backers of Ukraine of blocking a settlement. “The ball is in the hands of our Western opponents,” he said.
Western intelligence agencies have warned that Russia could pose a future military threat to NATO countries, a claim Putin rejected outright. NATO officials have said Moscow is already escalating covert operations and that Europe must prepare for long-term security challenges.
As the broadcast drew to a close, Putin answered rapid-fire personal questions, including saying he believes in love at first sight, before adding briefly that he himself is in love, without elaborating. — BBC
