Putin vows no more wars if Russia is respected, NATO tensions linger
Putin says Moscow will not wage new wars if treated with respect and accuses the West of breaking promises on NATO expansion during a lengthy Direct Line Q&A.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used a long, state-hosted Q&A session to say there will be no future wars if Russia is treated with the respect it seeks, and to reiterate his claim that Western assurances about NATO expansion were promised but not kept. The message came as Moscow continues to defend its security concerns amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
During the Direct Line, a televised event lasting nearly five hours, INLIBER's Steve Rosenberg asked whether Russia would launch new "special military operations"—Putin's term for a broad invasion. He replied that such actions would not happen if Moscow is treated with respect and its interests are acknowledged, as Russia has long argued it deserves in exchanges with the West.
Earlier in the year, Putin suggested Russia was not planning to fight Europe, but would be ready to do so if Europeans choose war. He reiterated a condition that there would be no further Russian invasions "if you don’t cheat us like you did with NATO" expansion, a reference to U.S. and European security guarantees often linked to post-Cold War talks.
The leader has repeatedly claimed that NATO made a historic promise to stop expanding toward Russia, a claim Kyiv and Western allies dispute. The Direct Line took place in a Moscow hall beneath a large map that included parts of Ukraine the country and its allies regard as occupied at varying levels of control since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. State media estimated millions submitted questions for the event.
Minutes after the marathon ended, Ukrainian officials reported a Russian missile strike in the southern Odesa region, leaving several dead and wounded. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has since shaped Russian policy and the national economy.
While the program appeared carefully staged, some viewers posted critical comments on screens during the event, calling it a circus, noting internet outages, or complaining about local issues such as water quality. Officials have attributed connectivity problems to Ukrainian drone activity in some areas.
Putin spoke about Russia’s economy, noting price pressures and a VAT increase from 20% to 22% starting January 1. In the same moment, Russia’s central bank signaled a rate cut to 16%, a gesture the Kremlin described as stabilizing the economy amid global pressures.
The discussion touched on culture and domestic life—praising local businesses, considering energy prices, and stressing care for veterans. Yet the war in Ukraine loomed in the background of many exchanges, with Putin insisting he is prepared to end the conflict peacefully but offering few signs of compromise on Ukraine’s territorial status or its alliance choices.
On the geopolitical front, Putin reaffirmed that Moscow seeks control of the Donbas region and conditions related to Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, portraying the West’s actions as a direct threat to Russia’s security. He also claimed to be ready to engage with Western partners as equals, but only with guaranteed security guarantees for Russia.
Western leaders and analysts have warned that Russia remains a volatile factor for European security, with some arguing that Russia could be testing Western resolve through hybrid and conventional pressures. During the event, a brief appearance by two Western correspondents allowed for pointed but limited questions addressing the feasibility of peace plans and Russia’s role in the conflict.
Expert comment: A security analyst notes that Putin's remarks blend hardline demands with selective openness, signaling readiness to negotiate only on Moscow’s terms. The statements aim to reassure domestic audiences while projecting a negotiating posture to Western partners.
Summary: Putin’s Direct Line frames ending the war as contingent on mutual respect and security guarantees, while continuing to push back on NATO expansion. The Kremlin highlights domestic resilience amid economic pressures and ongoing security concerns, even as Ukrainian attacks and Western diplomacy persist. The overall tone mixes firm demands with cautious overtures, signaling a conditional path to peace.
Key insight: Putin ties the possibility of ending the war to mutual respect for Russia and to security guarantees, casting NATO expansion as a central grievance. Source: BBC
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