Moscow pushes back against EU warnings over Russian security threats

Moscow is pushing back against growing European warnings over what the European Union (EU) calls Russian security threats.

President Vladimir Putin has accused European leaders of fueling tensions with Russia and criticized NATO’s continued expansion.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine four and a half years ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on Friday at a meeting on Russia’s defense sector, accused European leaders of escalating tensions instead of listening to their own citizens.

Putin said Russia has no aggressive intentions towards European countries and that Moscow remains ready to restore relations and cooperate with its European neighbours.

He also criticised NATO’s continued expansion, saying some European leaders were openly discussing preparations for a possible war with Russia.

Moscow has rejected European claims that Russia is behind a growing range of so-called hybrid threats. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said European governments were portraying Russia as an external enemy to justify higher defense spending and persuade their populations to accept the additional costs.

In her State of the Union address this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said hybrid threats were becoming less hybrid and more tangible.

She cited cyberattacks, sabotage, arson, and drone incidents and accused Russian operatives of involvement in several such incidents.

Moscow rejects those accusations and argues that NATO expansion and increased European military preparations are instead driving the escalation.

-Reporting by Dasha Chernyshova