Putin: Russia does not want war

Russia does not want war, and therefore put forward proposals for security in Europe, Vladimir Putin said after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Vladimir Putin: 'About whether we like it or not (the war in Europe). Of course not! That is why we put forward proposals for a negotiation process, the result of which should be an agreement on ensuring equal security for all, including our country'.

Unfortunately, Putin continued, Moscow did not receive a substantive, constructive response to its proposals. The Russian leader also noted: “But you and I were witnesses of the war in Europe unleashed by the NATO bloc against Yugoslavia. A major military operation with rocket and bomb strikes on one of the European capitals - Belgrade. It was!'

The Russian president recalled at the same time that these military actions were carried out without the sanction of the UN Security Council. 'This is a very bad example, but it was,' Putin said.

In the Kremlin today, Vladimir Putin received the new German Chancellor for the first time. The leaders discussed several large and complex topics at once - the situation around Ukraine, security guarantees in Europe, cooperation between Russia and Germany in the energy sector.