Putin says West preparing for war with Russia, warns Moscow ready to respond

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Western countries are openly preparing for a military confrontation with Russia, warning that Moscow is ready to respond swiftly and effectively to any external or internal threats.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Russian military academies on Tuesday, Putin said the international situation remained highly unstable, with the risk of conflict increasing in several regions around the world.

"Western countries are openly talking about preparing for a war with Russia and increasing their military budgets," Putin said.

NATO and European Union leaders are using false claims of a Russian threat to justify expanding military spending and strengthening their armed forces, he said.

The Russian leader also stated that Moscow continued to support the principle of equal and indivisible security for all states, maintaining that lasting security could only be achieved through the development of a multipolar international system.

Putin said Western governments are creating threats to Russia and then using Moscow's response as a pretext for pursuing aggressive policies against the country.

"The so-called pseudo-democratic West's pattern of action is very simple: first, they create threats to our country, forcing us to take necessary measures for self-defense and protection, and then immediately accuse us of all mortal sins to justify their aggressive policies and actions against Russia."

He went on to say that Russia is prepared to respond "promptly and adequately" to any threats and highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the country's military capabilities, including its nuclear triad, ground forces, aerospace forces and navy.

Addressing the conflict in Ukraine, Putin praised Russian troops participating in its special military operation, saying they are "courageously and effectively" carrying out their missions while protecting Russian interests and people in territories claimed by Russia.

He said Russian forces are advancing along the front line, saying they are "practically taking over" Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.

Putin also questioned Kiev's stated commitment to negotiations, citing recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory and civilian infrastructure. Such actions, he said, did not create conditions conducive to peace talks.

The Russian president reiterated Moscow's longstanding position that it was forced to intervene in Donbass after Western countries failed to implement the Minsk agreements, stressing that Russia had sought a negotiated solution for years before deciding to defend the population of the region.

Putin also stated that the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics had acted in accordance with international norms when declaring independence, although he said Western countries refused to acknowledge that interpretation.

Commenting on broader global security challenges, Putin noted that armed conflict continued in the West Asia and that tensions had risen in several regions across Eurasia.

He also called on Russia's law enforcement and security agencies to intensify efforts against terrorism, corruption and crime while supporting military personnel and maintaining security in territories under Russian control.

Lavrov warns NATO-Russia clash could trigger 'catastrophic' nuclear exchange

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that a direct military confrontation between NATO and Russia could quickly spiral into a nuclear conflict with catastrophic consequences.

The remarks come amid continued tensions between Russia and NATO countries over the war in Ukraine.

In recent months, Ukraine, backed by the United States and its Western allies, has expanded drone strikes against Russian energy facilities and infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, as the conflict shows little sign of easing despite repeated international calls for a negotiated settlement.

Russia has repeatedly argued that lasting peace can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of the conflict, including NATO’s eastward expansion, the rights of Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine and the need for long-term security guarantees.

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