Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is not preparing for a conflict with Europe, rejecting concerns in some NATO member states that Russia could launch an attack on alliance territory. Speaking to reporters in St Petersburg on Friday, Putin said Russia had “no real motive” to escalate tensions with European countries.

His remarks came as NATO stepped up intelligence-sharing in response to a series of sabotage and other incidents apparently linked to Russia. Denmark’s defence intelligence service has also warned of an increased risk of Russian hybrid warfare and a low but growing possibility of a limited military attack against one or more NATO members bordering Russia.

Putin Rejects Claims Of Russian Preparations

Putin said some European governments were creating fears about a potential Russian attack and using those concerns to justify preparations for a broader confrontation.

“Many in Europe talk about expecting an attack from Russia and therefore believe they must themselves prepare for hostilities, for a war with Russia,” Putin said.

He added that Moscow was “not preparing for any kind of hostilities with Europe”.

The comments come amid heightened concern in several European countries over alleged Russian involvement in sabotage, drone activity and other covert operations connected to the wider conflict surrounding Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in such operations or plans for a confrontation with NATO.

NATO Increases Intelligence Sharing

NATO has increased intelligence-sharing among its members following a series of incidents that the alliance suspects could be linked to Russia. US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told Reuters that the alliance was strengthening its response while saying there was no need for panic.

Grynkewich described the recent incidents as concerning but said NATO had the capabilities and mechanisms needed to manage the risks posed by Moscow.

His comments followed an assessment by Denmark’s defence intelligence service that Russia was likely to intensify its use of hybrid warfare against Western countries in the coming months. The assessment said there was a “low but growing risk” of a limited Russian military attack against one or more NATO countries bordering Russia.

Grynkewich said a limited Russian attack on NATO territory remained “unlikely but something that we can’t rule out”. He also rejected suggestions that Russia could see an opportunity to attack the alliance because the United States had used significant stocks of long-range precision missiles during the war with Iran.

Putin Addresses Ukraine Peace Talks

Putin also commented on the possibility of restarting peace negotiations with Ukraine, saying proposals for renewed talks remained on the table.

However, he said Moscow would first consider its response to recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory before deciding on its next steps.

“After everything they’ve done, we will give careful thought to what steps we need to take in response,” Putin said.

The comments come as European governments continue to assess the security implications of the Ukraine conflict, including alleged sabotage and other forms of hybrid activity. NATO has said it remains prepared to respond to potential threats while European officials continue to distinguish between covert attacks and the prospect of a direct military confrontation.

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