Moscow, December 17, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western nations, particularly the United States, of pushing Russia to retaliate through their continued support for Ukraine. Speaking at a high-level meeting of Defense Ministry officials on Monday, Putin claimed that the US is attempting to weaken Russia strategically by supplying Ukraine with weapons, financial aid, and military advisers, which he labeled as further escalating the conflict.
“The US aims to weaken our country and inflict a strategic defeat,” Putin stated. He also criticized Washington for instilling fear in its citizens using “simple tactics,” suggesting that the US deliberately provokes Russian responses to justify its actions and maintain domestic control.
Putin accused NATO of increasing defense expenditures and forming “strike groups” near Russian borders. He highlighted that the number of American troops stationed in Europe has surpassed 100,000, and NATO’s military presence is expanding into regions such as the Asia-Pacific, where it was previously absent.
A key point of concern raised by the Russian president was the US’s plans to deploy medium-range missile systems with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers. These weapons were once prohibited under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018, citing alleged Russian violations—claims Moscow has denied.
Despite Washington’s exit from the INF Treaty, Putin emphasized Russia’s voluntary commitment not to deploy medium- and short-range missiles unless the US takes similar actions. However, he issued a stark warning: “If the United States begins to deploy such systems, then all our voluntary restrictions will be lifted.”
Putin also accused Western powers of imposing their rules globally while waging “hybrid wars” against those who resist, including Russia. He called out NATO’s military buildup as a direct threat to Russia’s security and a further step toward global destabilization.
