Putin rejects Biden's claim that Russia plans to attack NATO as ‘nonsense’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed US President Joe Biden’s claim that Russia could attack a NATO country as “nonsense,” saying such a conflict would run counter to his country’s interests.

Putin remarked in an interview with Russian state TV on Sunday, weeks after Biden warned that if Putin achieved victory in Ukraine, he might be emboldened to attack a NATO ally, sparking a third world war.

"It is complete nonsense - and I think President Biden understands that," Putin said, adding that Biden may be trying to stoke such fears to justify his “erroneous policy” in the region. 

"Russia has no reason, no interest – no geopolitical interest, no economic, political or military interest – to fight NATO countries," Putin said.

He went on to say that Russia is seeking to develop its relations with NATO countries and has no intention of harming these relations, as there are no territorial claims between Russia and these countries. 

President Putin confessed that in the early years of his presidency in the 2000s, he retained a naivety towards Western countries that there is no ideological confrontation and no grounds for conflict between the West and Russia.

"I had a naive idea that the whole world and especially the so-called, now I say with absolute conviction, the so-called civilized [world] understands what happened to Russia, that it has become a completely different country, that there is no ideological confrontation anymore, which means there is no basis for confrontation," Putin said. 

Asked about how common ground could be found with the West given the rhetoric on both sides, Putin said the Western countries will have to find common ground with Russia because they will have to reckon with Moscow. 

US-Russia relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades since Moscow launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the purpose of which was the “demilitarization” and “denazification” of the neighboring country. 

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 favors sending even more support to war-torn Ukraine. 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.

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