Putin Says Russia Has No Aggressive Intentions Toward Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia harbors no aggressive intentions toward Europe, according to a report by the Russian state news agency TASS.

Putin argued that certain European leaders are using various justifications to defend what he described as the "exorbitant costs" associated with the war in Ukraine, TASS reported.

The Russian leader's remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations over the conflict in Ukraine, which has entered its fourth year. European governments have provided substantial military and financial support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

TASS did not provide additional details in the excerpt regarding the specific context or venue in which Putin made these comments, nor did it specify which European leaders he was referring to.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied that Moscow poses a military threat to European countries beyond Ukraine, even as several NATO members have increased defense spending and warned of potential Russian aggression toward the alliance's eastern flank.

This report is based on information from TASS. Further details from the original source could not be independently verified at this time.