Putin Declares No Further Wars If Russia is Respected

Sun Dec 21 2025 20:08:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent broadcast, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that there will be no more military operations following the Ukraine conflict, provided that Russia is treated with respect by the West.

During a lengthy televised event, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured there would be no further military operations if the West respects Russia's interests. He rejected allegations of imminent attacks on Europe as nonsense and reiterated claims against NATO expansion. Despite his assertions, concerns remain over ongoing hostilities as recent missile strikes in Ukraine resulted in casualties. Putin's comments come amid a backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and ongoing discussions of peace efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that there will be no more wars following the conflict in Ukraine if Russia is treated with respect, dismissing claims that Moscow is preparing to attack European countries as nonsense. In a televised event of nearly four and a half hours, he responded to inquiries from BBC's Steve Rosenberg regarding potential new military operations - the term he uses for the invasion of Ukraine - stating, 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.

Previously, Putin has claimed that Russia has no plans for war against Europe, yet maintains they are ready if necessary. He also emphasized that there would be no further invasions as long as the West does not deceive Russia as he believes they did with NATO's eastward expansion.

This recent Direct Line event included public questions and media inquiries, with Putin responding centrally beneath a large map displaying Russian-claimed territories in Ukraine. Allegations against NATO revolve around a supposed promise made to the Soviet Union regarding its expansion after the Cold War, a claim contested by Gorbachev.

Although Putin emphasized readiness for negotiations and minimizing hostilities, he provided few signs of willingness to compromise, insisting on certain demands regarding Ukraine's military presence in occupied areas. Observers noted that the ongoing war in Ukraine is a recurring theme in these discussions.

During the event, Putin faced some criticism from attendees, with remarks about pressing issues affecting the Russian economy and public dissatisfaction apparent in the digital display of questions. With inflation and price increases concerning citizens, Putin assured that the Kremlin would investigate rising energy costs.

Despite the formal tone of the questions, some participants challenged the president, including queries from Western journalists that stemmed from ongoing international relations issues. As the situation progresses, peace efforts continue to be complicated, with the U.S. proposing new initiatives while Putin points fingers at Western nations for obstructing solutions.