The war in Ukraine has caused the deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, and Mr Biden warned last year that a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia would trigger World War III.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: TASS
In his call for Republicans not to block further military aid earlier this month, President Biden warned that if Russia wins in Ukraine, it will not stop and attack a NATO country.
“It’s complete nonsense – and I think President Biden understands that,” Putin said in an interview published by state television Rossiya on Sunday, adding that Biden appeared to be trying to justify his own “wrong policy” on Russia.
“Russia has no reason, no interest – no geopolitical , economic, political or military interest – to fight with NATO countries,” Mr Putin said.
The US-led NATO alliance was established in 1949 to provide security for the West against the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, it was expanded to include several former Soviet states and the Warsaw Pact.
Mr Putin has repeatedly pointed to NATO's post-Cold War expansion as evidence of the West's arrogant handling of Russia's security concerns.
According to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all."
Mr Putin said Finland's accession to NATO in April would force Russia to "concentrate some military units" in northern Russia near its border.
Officials in Moscow and the West have repeatedly spoken of a “new Cold War”. Asked how he could find common ground with the West, Mr Putin said: “They will have to find common ground because they will have to take us into account.”
Hoang Anh (according to TASS, Reuters)
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