NATO’s direct clash with Russia would lead to ‘global catastrophe,’ Putin warns

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any direct clash of NATO troops with the Russian forces would lead to a “global catastrophe” after a war of words escalated between Moscow and the US-led military alliance and as the two are set to hold nuclear exercises in the next few days.

“In any case, direct contact, direct clash of NATO troops with the Russian army is a very dangerous move which could lead to a global catastrophe. I hope that those who are saying this are smart enough not to take such a step,” Putin said at a news conference in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Friday.

Putin made the warning a day after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia would be crossing a “very important line” if it were to order the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Moreover, NATO is holding its annual exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Noon” next week, which is to last for about seven days and will involve fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The drills will not involve any live bombs and the main part of the maneuvers will be held more than 1,000 kilometers from Russia.

Russia is also scheduled to conduct its own maneuvers around the same time, with Stoltenberg saying NATO will “closely monitor” Moscow’s activities.

NATO set to hold nuclear exercises amid tensions over Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance will proceed with its annual nuclear exercises next week, amid tensions over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine began after Putin launched a military operation on February 24 to “demilitarize” two eastern Ukrainian regions amid Kiev’s bid to join NATO, which Moscow deems a redline.

Before sending its armed forces into Ukraine, Moscow had been demanding legally binding guarantees that Ukraine would never be admitted into the US-led military alliance.

The United States and the European Union have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow since the onset of the Russian operation. The Western states have also been accommodating Ukraine generously with advanced weapons in a move that Moscow says would only draw out the conflict.

Putin ‘doesn’t see the need’ for talks with Biden

Elsewhere in his news conference in Astana, the Russian leader said he saw “no need” for talks with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, and that he had not yet taken a decision on attending a G20 summit in Indonesia next month.

“We should ask him if he’s ready to hold such talks with me or not. I don’t see the need, to be honest,” Putin said when asked about a potential meeting with Biden on the sidelines of a G20 summit in November.

The Russian president added that his participation in the summit hosted by Indonesia in Bali is not yet decided.

“The question of my trip there has not been finalized. Russia will certainly take part. As for the format, we’re still thinking about it,” Putin told reporters.

Biden said earlier this week that he had “no intention” of meeting with Putin but did not rule out potential talks.

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