Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that any threats made against Russia will only embolden the country. He was speaking at a press conference at the conclusion of the BRICS Summit in Kazan on Thursdau.
“You can threaten anyone. It’s pointless to threaten Russia, since this only emboldens us,” Putin said, in response to reported claims that his former US counterpart Donald Trump had threatened to bomb Moscow.
Trump’s comments were mere campaign talk that shouldn’t be taken “too seriously,” the Russian president added. He went on to say that he didn’t recall such a conversation with Trump.
The former US president and current Republican candidate made the statement in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Friday, claiming he had told the Russian leader that “if you go after Ukraine, I am going to hit you so hard, you’re not even going to believe it. I’m going to hit you right in the middle of fricking Moscow… We’re friends. I don’t want to do it, but I have no choice.”
At the same time, Putin commended Trump’s repeated promises to bring the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to an end. Moscow welcomes any peace initiatives regardless of who presents them, he said, reiterating the country’s readiness to take part in peace talks.
“What Mr. Trump spoke about quite recently, what I heard – he spoke about the desire to do everything to end the conflict in Ukraine – it seems to me that he spoke sincerely. Of course, we welcome such statements, no matter who they come from,” Putin stated.