Putin Promises No More Wars If West Respects Russia

Sat Dec 20 2025 09:02:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a lengthy televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that there would be no future conflicts if Russia's interests are respected by the West, labeling claims of imminent attacks on Europe as 'nonsense'.

During his recent end-of-year press conference, President Vladimir Putin asserted that Russia will not initiate further wars if it is treated with respect by Western nations, dismissing accusations that his country plans to attack Europe. He emphasized the need for mutual respect and criticized NATO's expansion, while addressing Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has stated that there will not be new wars after Ukraine if the West treats Russia with respect, arguing that suggestions of upcoming attacks on European countries by Moscow are 'nonsense'.

In his marathon televised press conference that lasted nearly four and a half hours, Putin responded to inquiries about the possibility of future 'special military operations'—his term for full-scale war. He asserted, 'There won't be any operations if you treat us with respect, if you respect our interests just as we've always tried to respect yours.'

He reiterated his stance that respect must reign in international relations, linking it to past grievances including NATO's eastward expansion, which he alleges breached commitments supposedly made to the Soviet Union in the 1990s.

During the event, which saw over three million questions submitted by the public, Putin highlighted issues such as the faltering Russian economy, rising prices, and challenges faced by citizens, while emphasizing that Russia is prepared for peace—a point he has made repeatedly yet has provided little indication of compromise in negotiations over Ukraine.

Putin's remarks regarding Ukraine's ongoing war returned to his demands for Ukrainian military withdrawal from occupied territories and a halt to NATO's influence in the region. The situation remains tense as foreign policy continues to intertwine with domestic issues, with a Russian delegation set to meet with American officials to discuss the prospect of a peace deal proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.