Ashgabat-Sana
Russian President Vladimir Putin considered that the West's call to continue fighting in Ukraine proves that their goal is not its interest but to protect its interests, indicating that NATO is an instrument of US policy and that Russia will respond if the alliance deploys its forces in Sweden and Finland.
Putin said during a press conference today in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on the sidelines of the sixth Caspian Summit: “NATO’s preparations to confront Russia have been in place since 2014 and are not new to Moscow,” adding that NATO is a relic of the Cold War .. and Moscow considers it a tool to implement a policy United States of America.
Regarding the possibility of Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, Putin pointed out that this process will not bother Moscow and that Russia does not have any problems with Sweden and Finland if they join, stressing at the same time that Russia will have to respond if NATO forces are deployed in the two mentioned countries.
On the special military operation in Ukraine, Putin stressed that the Russian army is achieving its goals and nothing has changed regarding the goals, but the tactics are determined by the Ministry of Defense, indicating that the Russian army is protecting the people of Donbass and Russia.
Regarding the allegations of Russia targeting a market in Kremenchug, Baltava region, Putin said: “There is no terrorist act and we have clarified this from different sources,” stressing that the Russian army does not target civilian areas, but rather targets weapons sites with accurate weapons.
The Russian president pointed out that Kyiv's forces are hiding cannons, heavy weapons and military equipment in markets, among civilians, and in factories and workshops.
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