Putin made the remarks on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, while addressing military graduates during a ceremony in Russia.
According to the Russian leader, members of NATO and the European Union have for years accused Moscow of harboring plans to attack them. He argued that those claims were used to justify military preparations and increased defense spending.
“Now they speak openly about preparing for a confrontation with us, increasing military budgets and strengthening their armed forces,” Putin said.
He added that Western countries first imposed what he called threats and pressure on Russia, prompting Moscow to take measures to safeguard its security. Putin further accused European governments of blaming Russia for various crises in order to justify what he described as continued hostility toward his country.
His comments come amid a significant increase in defense spending by NATO members, European Union countries and Canada. In 2025, these countries collectively raised their military budgets by around 20%, bringing total defense expenditure to approximately $574 billion.
European governments and NATO have repeatedly stated that the increase in spending is aimed at strengthening deterrence and ensuring they have the capacity to respond to potential threats posed by Russia. The alliance maintains that its actions are defensive in nature and intended to safeguard member states.
Russia, however, insists that it has no intention of attacking NATO countries and argues that the expansion of military capabilities in Europe increases tensions and risks further confrontation. The Kremlin has consistently portrayed Western support for Ukraine and growing defense investments across Europe as evidence of a broader strategy aimed at containing Russia.
Putin’s remarks come at a time of strained relations between Moscow and the West, with the war in Ukraine continuing to shape security policies across Europe and prompting governments to reassess their military readiness.
