Dmitry Medvedev, Vice -Chairman of the Security Council and former President, said on Thursday (July 17) that Russia does not intend to initiate attacks on NATO or Western Europe. He warned, however, that if the West escalated the war in Ukraine, Moscow could be forced to react, potentially with preventive military strikes.
“Let me remind you that our President has clearly said that Russia does not intend to fight NATO or attack Europe,” Medvedev said, according to the Russian State Intelligence Agency TASS.
A threat of preventive action
Medvedev, a key ally of President Vladimir Putin, said that Russia should be ready to deliver “preventive strikes” if the West continues what he has described as a provocation.
“We should … respond in full or even give preventive strikes if necessary,” Medvedev said.
“The treacherous nature of the West and its distorted feeling of superiority is still obvious.”
He accused the Western government of deliberate escalation by the delivery of advanced weapons, satellite intelligence and storage of sanctions.
Rejects Western concerns as “nonsense”
Medvedev, who responded to speculation in the West about a possible Russian attack on Europe, refused such warnings directly.
“The statement of Western politicians on this topic is complete nonsense,” he said.
“Many in the West have betrayal in their blood and an outdated view of their own superiority.”
He described the current conflict not only as a proxy war, but “essentially war in a full scale”.
“What is happening today is a proxy war, but basically it is a full-scale war-to the western missiles, satellite intelligence, sanction packages, a loud statement of Europe militarization.”
Russia under threat?
According to Medvedev, the western goal of the “destruction” of Russia is as a sovereign forces.
“It is another attempt to destroy the” historical anomaly “of the hated West – Russia, our country,” he said.
The Kremlin is slightly distanced
Asked about Medvedev’s comments, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to work out and noted that Medvedev expressed his personal opinion, although he acknowledges that he “has great experience”.
Peskov said that Medvedev has the right to draw attention to the confrontational environment in Europe.
Trump’s pressures on peace
Warning comes when US President Donald Trump, who now runs for re -election, repeated his desire to end the war of Ukraine within 50 days, if elected. Trump also criticized Putin’s actions.
“I am very unfortunate and disappointed with Putin,” Trump said on Monday, and also prevented his decision to send limited weapons to Ukraine as a pressure tactic.
(Tagstotranslate) Dmitry Medvedev
