Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western claims of an imminent attack by Moscow as “lies and nonsense,” stressing that such deliberate statements are meant to raise the level of hysteria on the continent.

Speaking at an expanded Defense Ministry Board meeting on Wednesday, Putin noted that the global geopolitical situation remains “tense” and “downright critical” in some regions. He accused NATO countries of “preparing for a major war” by building up and modernizing their offensive forces while “brainwashing” their population with claims of an inevitable clash with Russia.

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