Putin says Russia won’t attack other countries if treated with respect
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow would refrain from launching new attacks on other countries, provided his country was treated “with respect”.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Kremlin made this statement at its annual televised press conference in Moscow due to continuing concerns among European countries that Russia poses a security threat.
Putin said, “Will there be new special military operations? If you treat us with respect and take care of our interests, just as we constantly try to take care of your interests, there will be no operations.”
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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at his annual press conference and call-in program at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Friday, December 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)
According to AFP, Putin uses the phrase “special military operation” to describe Russia’s attack in Ukraine.
He added that there would be no further Russian invasions “unless you deceive us like you deceived us with NATO’s eastward expansion.” BBC.
The Russian leader also claimed he was “ready and willing” to end the war in Ukraine “peacefully” but gave few details that suggested he was willing to compromise, the BBC reported.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a reporter’s question during his annual press conference and invited program at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow on Friday, December 19, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The annual press conference, which usually lasts at least four hours, features questions from reporters and the public from across Russia.
More than 2.5 million questions were asked for this year’s event, which focused heavily on the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
According to the Associated Press, Putin also noted during the event that the country’s “troops are advancing” and expressed confidence that Russia will achieve its goals through military means if Ukraine does not accept Russia’s terms during peace talks.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) thanks a group of volunteers who worked to prepare his call-in show at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow on Friday, December 19, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
“Our troops are advancing all over the line of contact, faster in some areas, slower in others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors,” Putin said.
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As the war dragged on, the European Union agreed to provide Ukraine with loans of over $105 billion.
Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
