President Putin: NATO has deployed forces on the ground in Ukraine
(Baonghean.vn) - That is the assertion of Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, this leader said that NATO soldiers are suffering casualties in large numbers.
According to TASS news agency on March 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was no secret that NATO troops were on the ground in Ukraine. He noted that those soldiers were facing extremely grim prospects.
Speaking to supporters and reporters on the evening of March 17 after the end of the presidential election in which he is expected to win overwhelmingly, Mr. Putin emphasized that Moscow is well aware of the US-led military bloc's push to deploy troops in Ukraine.
“We heard both French and English there. There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they die there in large numbers,” he said.
Mr Putin also weighed in on the possibility of a full-scale conflict between NATO and Russia, warning that it could not be ruled out. “Anything is possible in the modern world… But everyone knows that this would be just one step away from a full-scale world war. I don’t think anyone wants that,” the Russian president said.
French President Emmanuel Macron suggested last month that the West “cannot rule out” sending troops to help Ukraine. He later described Russia as an “adversary” but stressed that Paris was not “at war” with Moscow.
Commenting on Mr. Macron's remarks, Mr. Putin noted that although NATO troops in Ukraine are expected to act as auxiliary forces, helping Kiev train its army, “this is not much different from what mercenaries are doing there now.”
Russia wants France not to escalate the conflict but to help find a peaceful solution to end hostilities, he added.
