The Kremlin Tuesday dismissed European claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to rebuild the Soviet Union or launch an attack on NATO, calling the allegations unfounded and “complete stupidity.”
Putin, who has previously described the 1991 Soviet collapse as the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century due to the economic hardship and instability it triggered, has long faced criticism from opponents who argue that his rule mirrors the stagnation and repression of the late Soviet era. Western leaders have warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine could embolden him to one day strike a NATO member.
Moscow has consistently denied those claims. Putin has repeatedly insisted that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO, noting that such a move would be irrational given the alliance’s conventional military advantage.
Responding to comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Europe must prepare for what he described as Russia’s clear intention, spelled out in official doctrines, to strike the alliance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the accusation outright.
“This is not true,” Peskov told reporters, Reuters reported. “Vladimir Putin does not want to restore the USSR — it is impossible, and he has said this many times.” He added that invoking such claims showed a lack of respect and suggested Merz was misinformed.
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“As for preparing an attack on NATO, this is complete stupidity,” Peskov said.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP/File Photo) 
