Moscow, Dec 9: The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected Western assertions that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to rebuild the Soviet Union or launch an attack on a NATO member state, calling such claims “complete stupidity.”
The comments came amid growing concern among European and Western leaders who argue that Putin’s geopolitical ambitions extend beyond Ukraine. Kremlin officials stated that these warnings are rooted in misinformation and political hysteria rather than reality.
Putin, who grew up during the Soviet era, has previously expressed regret over the collapse of the USSR. In 2005, he described the disintegration of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century,” citing widespread economic hardship and the fragmentation of territories once held under Moscow’s influence.
Critics argue that Putin’s governance increasingly mirrors the authoritarian and stagnant environment of the Brezhnev-era Soviet Union, marked by political repression and tight control over dissent. Western leaders continue to warn that if Russia achieves victory in Ukraine, Moscow may eventually attempt to challenge NATO’s territorial security.
The Kremlin firmly dismissed such accusations, maintaining that Russia poses no threat to NATO member states and accusing Western governments of fueling unnecessary fear and confrontation.
