Russian President Vladimir Putin told his country’s adversaries on Friday that they should never go to war with Russia.
Putin made the statement during a meeting with participants of the special military operation in Ukraine. The meeting took place at the Kremlin on Russia Day, a national holiday celebrated on June 12.
“Just one piece of advice we can give to our adversaries: do not fight Russia,” Putin said, according to Russian state news agency Sputnik. “Never attempt to do so. Let’s live in peace and resolve all issues through negotiations.”
Putin emphasized that negotiations must not take the form of ultimatums directed at Moscow. He said Russia had spent eight years trying to reach a peaceful agreement with Ukraine before launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The Russian leader also addressed NATO countries. He said the alliance has tried to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia but now understands that this goal is impossible to achieve. “They overdid it when they publicly stated it, they were too hasty,” Putin said.
Putin claimed that NATO launched a war against Russia, which he said began with a coup in Ukraine. He added that all NATO members are stepping up efforts to conduct hostile actions against Russia.
The president said Russia is standing alone against what he called the collective West in the form of NATO. He described the alliance as a well-known organization opposed to Moscow.
Putin said the Russian troop presence in the special military operation zone exceeds 700,000 people. He made the comment while speaking with service members who have been fighting in Ukraine.
The meeting came as Russia celebrated its national day. Putin’s comments reflected the Kremlin’s continued stance on the war, now in its fifth year. The conflict has caused tens of thousands of military casualties on both sides and displaced millions of Ukrainian civilians, according to United Nations estimates.
Western governments have repeatedly rejected Putin’s characterization of the war. They describe Russia’s invasion as an unprovoked act of aggression. The United States and European allies have provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid since 2022.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 8 that the alliance would not be drawn into a direct war with Russia. He made the remarks after talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Putin on Friday also discussed negotiations. He said Russia prefers talks but will not accept ultimatums. The president has previously stated that Moscow is ready to end combat operations if Kyiv withdraws from territories Russia claims.
Ukraine has rejected that condition. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 5 that Putin does not want to end the war. Zelensky described the Kremlin’s response to a proposed direct meeting as weak.
The war in Ukraine remains the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Front lines have shifted little in recent months, with both sides suffering heavy losses. International efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed.
Putin concluded his meeting with service members by thanking them for their service. He said Russia Day belongs to them because they are directly defending the country.