Putin claims Russian speakers' rights are violated in Baltic states but says Russia is not preparing for war in Europe

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia is aware of violations of the rights of Russian speakers in the Baltic states.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, broadcasting Putin's press conference on 25 September

Details: Putin said Russia knows that the rights of Russian speakers are supposedly being "violated" in the Baltic states, but responds to this within the framework of humanitarian and international law.

"We know that the rights of the Russian-speaking population are being violated in the Baltic states. But we already know how to respond, and we have developed a certain approach to this. We respond on humanitarian grounds and within the framework of international law," the Russian leader said.

He also commented on the tense situation in Europe, calling EU countries' statements about the threat from Russia a deliberate exaggeration and provocation.

Quote: "I want to emphasise once again: we are not preparing for any military action against Europe. We have no such plans, and, most importantly, there are no grounds for them. There are no real motives whatsoever for escalating the situation with Europe."

Details: In his view, the EU authorities are deliberately deceiving Europeans in order to "use Ukrainians as 'cannon fodder'".

Background: Putin also claimed that Ukraine carried out strikes on polling stations in Moscow on the night of 19-20 September.

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