French general urges Europe not to fear Russian attack
(Baonghean.vn) - Retired French Army General Jean-Bernard Pinatel said that Russia is conducting a special campaign in Ukraine to protect its historical land and will not attack Europe.
According to RT news agency on February 18, in an interview with Sud Radio, retired General of the French Army, Jean-Bernard Pinatel, Vice President of the GEOPRAGMA Research Center, stated that Russia is conducting a special campaign in Ukraine to protect its historical land and will not attack Europe.
"When they tell us that the Russians want to go further and conquer Western Europe, this is nonsense," said General Jean-Bernard Pinatel.
General Pinatel explained that the goal of Russia's special military operation is to protect the Russian-speaking population of Donbass from daily Ukrainian shelling, as well as Russia's territorial security.
Previously, at a press conference in Brussels (Belgium) on January 23, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared, "he does not see any direct or imminent threat from Russia to any NATO ally."
Meanwhile, defense ministers from countries such as Germany, Estonia and many others have warned of an "attack" from Russia on NATO in the next 3-5 years.
On the Russian side, in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson published on February 9, President Vladimir Putin affirmed that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO member countries and will only retaliate if attacked first.
Asked whether it was possible to “imagine a scenario of sending Russian troops to Poland”, the Russian president said: “Only in one case: if there is an attack on Russia from Poland. Why? Because we have no interests in Poland, Latvia or any other NATO member”.