‘I believe no one is interested in a third world war’: at a press conference following the presidential elections in Russia, Putin made a series of statements about Ukraine and NATO

Vladimir Putin made a series of statements regarding Ukraine during a press conference following the conclusion of the Russian presidential elections.

They touched upon the situation on the border with the Belgorod and Kursk regions, as well as negotiations for ending the war.

In the border zone, there are about five thousand Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, according to the Russian president, are suffering heavy losses.

“If they like it that way, then it’s fine by us. It’s a meat grinder for them,” he added.

Half of the mentioned figure, according to Putin’s statement, are Russians who have switched to Kiev’s side. He indicated that they would not be taken prisoner.

In response to attacks on the Russian border, Putin also suggested “creating a security zone that would be difficult to overcome, using the means of attack that the enemy uses.” Putin did not specify the possible size of this zone and said that “it’s a separate issue.”

He also touched on the topic of negotiations, commenting in particular, on French President Emmanuel Macron’s words about an “Olympic truce.” Putin stated that he had not heard such proposals but was ready to consider them “based on the interests of the Russian Federation and the situation in the conflict zone.”

“We are in favor of peace talks, but not because the enemy is running out of ammunition. But if they really, seriously, want to build peaceful, good-neighborly relations between the two states in the long term. Not to take a pause for rearmament for 1.5-2 years,” Putin said.

He also addressed the possibility of a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.

“I think anything is possible in the modern world. But as I say, and this is clear to everyone, it would be one step away from a full-scale third world war. I think hardly anyone is interested in that,” Putin said.