Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned the West against the risk of a direct conflict between Russia and NATO, which he described as a potential precursor to World War Three.
Tensions between Moscow and the West have reached their worst level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis due to the Ukraine conflict.
Putin has previously warned about the dangers of nuclear war but insists he has no intention of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently suggested the possibility of deploying ground troops in Ukraine, although many Western countries have distanced themselves from this idea.
Putin responded to Macron's remarks by stating that "everything is possible in the modern world." Russian President Vladimir Putin, after winning a landslide election victory, warned that the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia could lead to World War Three.
He accused NATO of having military personnel in Ukraine and reported hearing English and French being spoken on the battlefield.
Putin also threatened to create a buffer zone in Ukrainian territory if attacks on Russia continued.
Ukraine had been escalating attacks against Russia, including shelling border regions and attempting to breach Russian borders.
Putin suggested creating a "sanitary zone" in areas under Ukrainian control to prevent foreign weapons from reaching Russian territory, implying possible military action.
He has previously ordered an invasion of Ukraine in 2022, escalating the ongoing conflict.
Putin expressed a desire for France to help find peace instead of aggravating the situation.
Putin expressed his support for peace talks but not just as a temporary solution while the enemy rearms.
He criticized the US and Western criticism of Russia's election, labeling US elections as non-democratic and criticizing the use of state power against
Donald Trump.
Putin also addressed the death of opposition leader
Alexei Navalny, stating that he had "passed away" using Navalny's name for the first time in public.
Putin confirmed that a prisoner exchange deal for opposition leader Navalny was agreed upon before his death.
Putin stated that he approved the swap with the condition that Navalny would not return.
Navalny's widow, Yulia, accused Putin of killing her husband, which was denied by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.