Vladimir Putin: Russia Has No Plans to Attack Others

The President of Russia stated that Moscow has no plans for military intervention in the Middle East other than in Syria. He dismissed American officials' comments about the threat posed by Russia as election propaganda. When asked if Russia has plans for potential military intervention in Iraq and Libya similar to its involvement in the Syrian civil war, Putin responded, "No, we have no such plans anywhere else." He also remarked that the nervous comments from American politicians regarding imaginary Russian threats in the election campaign are efforts to divert public attention from their own failures. Putin expressed disbelief that anyone genuinely thinks Russia could influence the U.S. presidential elections. The U.S. government has officially accused Russia of conducting cyberattacks on the Democratic Party's internet network, and Hillary Clinton has accused her rival Donald Trump of being "Putin's puppet." Putin stated, "There has been a sharp atmosphere created regarding Russia's influence on the U.S. presidential elections." He added that this atmosphere is an attempt by American politicians to distract public opinion from the incapacity of decision-makers in that country to solve issues like heavy government debts or gun control. The Russian President further stated, "It is much easier to divert public opinion with propaganda about so-called hackers and Russian spies. Does anyone really think Russia can influence the elections of the American people? Is America a paper tiger? America is a great power." Putin also noted that some powers in the West exaggerate the dangers posed by Russia to justify increased military spending or to inflate their own importance. He reiterated that Russia has no plans to attack others.