Putin says NATO is openly preparing for war against Russia

ANBAR, Iraq — MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin told graduates of Russian military academies at a Kremlin ceremony on Tuesday that the West, led by NATO, is preparing for war against Russia, according to Reuters. Putin said Western rhetoric had shifted from supporting Ukraine to openly preparing for a conflict with Russia while expanding military and aggressive budgets. He accused NATO and EU countries of using unsubstantiated claims of a Russian military threat to justify the build-up. The Russian leader said Moscow supports a multipolar international system that guarantees the security of every state, and warned that Russia is prepared to respond appropriately to all foreign and domestic threats. In the same address, he accused Ukraine of striking civilian targets in Russia to destabilize society. According to Reuters, Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries have doubled since the start of 2026, causing gasoline queues and price increases in some regions. Kyiv says the aim of the strikes is to erode Russia’s main source of war financing.