Russian leader said that NATO is attempting to intimidate its own population with an ‘imaginary’ Russian threat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has “absolutely” no interest in expanding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to other countries and accused the West of exaggerating the nuclear threat posed by his country.
During a two-hour interview with Tucker Carlson in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr. Putin accused NATO countries of attempting to intimidate their populations with an “imaginary” Russian threat.
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance comprised of 29 European countries, the United States, and Canada.
When Mr. Carlson asked if NATO was worried about the conflict in Ukraine escalating into a global war or a nuclear conflict, Mr. Putin responded, “At least that’s what they’re talking about,” attributing these concerns to attempts to manipulate public opinion.
“They’re trying to intimidate their own population within an imaginary Russian threat,” Mr. Putin added. “This is an obvious fact.”
Mr. Putin insisted that informed individuals, particularly analysts and those engaged in real politics, understand that the perceived threat is “fake.”
“They’re trying to fuel the Russian threat,” he added.
‘Send Russian Troops to Poland?’
When asked, the Russian president clarified that the threat he spoke of related to the potential expansion of the conflict to include Russian forces invading Poland and other Eastern European countries.
“Can you imagine a scenario where you send Russian troops to Poland?” Mr. Carlson asked.
Mr. Putin categorically stated that such a scenario would only occur if “Poland attacks Russia.”
“Why would we do that? We simply don’t have any interest. It’s just threat-mongering,” he added.
Mr. Putin dismissed the accusation that his invasion of Ukraine indicates his greater territorial ambitions.
“It is absolutely out of the question,” Mr. Putin said. “You don’t have to be any kind of analyst. It goes against common sense to get involved in some kind of a global war. And a global war will bring all humanity to the brink of destruction. It’s obvious.”
According to Mr. Putin, Russia has been used to “scar[e] everyone” in the United States and Europe with the constant threat of nuclear war in order to “extort additional money from U.S. taxpayers and European taxpayers in the confrontation with Russia in the Ukrainian theater of war.”
“The goal is to weaken Russia as much as possible,” he added.
