Putin Dismisses NATO Attack Plans as "Rubbish"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly denied having any plans to attack a NATO country. In a statement to the BBC, Putin dismissed Western intelligence warnings of a potential Russian assault on Europe as "rubbish." He called the idea "nonsense" and said Russia has "no interest" in fighting the NATO military alliance. The comments come amid heightened tensions and increased military spending across Europe. Many NATO members have expressed fear of future Russian aggression following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin framed his denial as a logical position. He argued that a war with NATO would be against what he called Russia's "own interests" and the interests of the Russian people. The Russian leader did not address his ongoing war in Ukraine, which borders several NATO states.