Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized European leaders, accusing them of fueling “war hysteria” and creating anxieties regarding a potential Russian invasion of NATO. Putin dismissed any possibility of initiating a war against NATO but cautioned that any aggressive actions would be met with a forceful response. He stated, “It is impossible to believe that Russia will attack NATO.”
Putin emphasized that Russia has never been the instigator of military conflicts but would not tolerate any perceived weakness. He added, “Our history has proven that weakness is unacceptable, because it creates temptation-the illusion that some issue with us can be resolved by force. Russia will never show weakness or indecision.”
Simultaneously, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and Iran has officially come into effect, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry. The agreement “marks an important milestone in the history of Russian-Iranian interstate relations that have reached a new level of broad strategic partnership,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The treaty was signed by Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Moscow on January 17, 2025, and became effective on October 2. The document outlines key benchmarks for long-term bilateral cooperation.