MOSCOW, February 16 A number of NATO countries are skeptical about statements spreading in the West that Russia allegedly intends to attack one of the alliance countries, writes the Financial Times.
As the publication writes, “some members of the alliance are skeptical that” the Russian Federation intends to “attack one of the NATO members.”
As an unnamed senior US military official told the Financial Times, «our assessment is that the Russian Federation «takes our Article 5 obligations seriously and does not want to go to war with NATO.»
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier explained in detail in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson that Moscow is not going to attack NATO countries. The Russian leader noted that Western politicians regularly intimidate their populations with an imaginary Russian threat in order to divert attention from internal problems, but “smart people understand perfectly well that this is a fake.” Putin added that Western countries began to understand that Russia’s strategic defeat in the conflict with Ukraine is impossible, so they should think about their next steps, while the Russian Federation is ready for dialogue.
Meanwhile, recently in the West ideas about a direct armed conflict between the alliance and the Russian Federation have been increasingly voiced. The Kremlin noted that the Russian Federation does not pose a threat, does not threaten anyone, but will not ignore actions that are potentially dangerous to its interests. In addition, in recent years, the Russian Federation has noted unprecedented NATO activity near its western borders. The alliance is expanding initiatives and calling it «containment of Russian aggression.» Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about the buildup of alliance forces in Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow remains open to dialogue with NATO, but on an equal basis, while the West must abandon the course of militarizing the continent.