Moscow: Russian president Vladimir Putin has dismissed U.S. President Joe Biden’s claim that Moscow could attack a NATO country if Putin won in Ukraine, as “complete nonsense”, adding that Russia had no interest in fighting with the NATO military alliance.
Putin made the statement in an interview with Russian state television channel Rossiya on Sunday.
Biden earlier this month warned that if Putin achieved a victory over Ukraine, he might be emboldened to attack a NATO country, sparking a third world war. However, Biden offered no clear evidence for his remarks.
“It is complete nonsense and I think President Biden understands that,” Putin told state television channel Rossiya. “Russia has no reason, no interest, no geopolitical interest, neither economic, political nor military, to fight with NATO countries, ” he said.
Putin added that Biden may be trying to stoke such fears to justify his “erroneous policy” in the region.
US-Russia relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades since Moscow invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.
Throughout the 22-month war, the US has provided Ukraine with $111bn in weapons, equipment, and other aid, helping the Ukrainians fend off Russia’s advance and regain some territory.
Biden favours sending even more support to war-torn Ukraine, which is running short on supplies as it grinds to a bloody winter stalemate.
He has asked US Congress to approve $61.4bn in support for Ukraine as part of a larger $110bn package that includes more funds for Israel and other issues.
However, there is waning appetite in the Congress for the lingering war. Some Republican lawmakers have blocked the aid package, demanding the White House first take action on border security.
Biden on December 12 said that right-wing lawmakers’ refusal to approve the package also risked handing President Putin a “Christmas gift” of victory.
“Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine,” Biden said during a news conference with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “We must … prove him wrong.”
With agency inputs