Russia has no designs on any NATO country and will not attack Poland, the Baltic states or the Czech Republic but if the West supplies F-16 fighters to Ukraine then they will be shot down by Russian forces, President Vladimir Putin said late on Wednesday.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has triggered the deepest crisis in Russia’s relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Speaking to Russian air force pilots, Putin said the U.S.-led military alliance had expanded eastwards towards Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union but that Moscow had no plans to attack a NATO state.

  • resetbypeer@lemmy.world
    531·
    8 months ago

    Still playing the victim here for neighboring countries joining NATO. Perhaps prof. Dr. Putin should read a history book that is not Soviet narratively written , which would call out for the unwanted occupation of half of central and eastern Europe. And the unwanted _forced Warsaw pact alliance.

    NATO is a voluntary alliance. Maybe by looking in the mirror and see why all formal Warsaw pact counties wanted to join NATO, would answer your question. Bully who bullies doesn’t understand why his victims dont want to be bullied.

    But it’s all for the believers because ignorance is strength.