Vladimir Putin has spoken of the prospect of a full-scale conflict between Moscow and NATO that would lead to a “full-scale Third World War,” after he claimed victory in an election condemned by the West as neither free nor fair.
After the Kremlin said he had won nearly 88 percent of the vote, the Russian president addressed a press conference in which he took aim at those “want to intimidate us.” He said such a move “has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never.”
Taking questions from reporters, Putin was asked about the possibility of a conflict between Russia and the West. He replied: “I think that everything is possible in the modern world.
“But I have already said, and it is clear to everyone, that it will be one step away from a full-scale third world war. I think hardly anyone is interested in this,” Putin added. Newsweek has emailed NATO for comment.
The Kremlin wanted the tightly controlled election to see Russians back Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine where voting was also held in Russian-occupied territories.
Read more at Newsweek.com
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