He argues that, for years, Western leaders have disrespected, deceived and lied to Russia - and that they're lying still by claiming that Moscow intends to attack Europe. "What kind of rubbish is that?" declares the Kremlin leader. But many European leaders simply don't trust Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual marathon press conference is perhaps best summarized as a mashup of a municipal board meeting and geopolitical talkfest.

Europe will have to re-engage in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin if the latest U.S.-led efforts to broker a Ukraine peace deal founder, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.

Russia's Vladimir Solovyov added to fears that a larger war will break out in Europe when he listed multiple countries Russia should "destroy."

Vladimir Putin said Moscow would expand its military campaign in Ukraine unless Kyiv and its Western allies engage with US-backed peace talks, as tensions with Europe intensify.

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as "young pigs" did not engage over U.S. proposals for a peace settlement.

Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s European allies have pushed for demands that are “absolutely unacceptable."

Vladimir Putin has said Russia will not back down from its mission to “liberate its historic lands” and predicted the European “swine” backing Kyiv would ultimately lose power, in a speech that showed no readiness to compromise on the goals for his invasion of Ukraine.

EXCLUSIVE: Speaking as EU leaders gathered in Brussels, Yuriy Boyechko described Putin's rhetoric as "not merely posturing" but a precursor to escalation