Ukraine crisis: Putin says military drills were 'purely defensive' and 'not a threat'

President Vladimir Putin says recent Russian military drills are not a threat to any other country and accused Ukraine of violating the Minsk agreement.

He met Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and spoke about the growing tensions along the border of Ukraine.

Putin accused Ukraine and NATO of escalating the threat and says he's open to diplomacy.

[RMAGEDN]

These guys (all leaders) bump their chest (egos), and play with the lives of people who want nothing to do with their games.

[hsepo]

For the last six month Putin has been moving troops to Ukrainian borders. Today Putin says
"Situation in East Ukraine suddenly deteriorated critically" Wow.. What a coincidence!?

[tracyevans]

If they weren’t a threat then why is he making all these demands.

[BillySugger]

These “exercises” are the greatest rationale for accelerating Ukraine’s accession to full NATO membership.

[SparkBerry]

Plot twist: Putin takes Belarus instead.

[juleswine]

He is doing what NATO members have said. Blaming Ukraine for a baseless idea in order to give himself permission to invade. Vile, vile, vile!

[Paulo-ovyo]

In that case NATO is just being purely defensive and is no threat.

[daletheriault]

That man needs to disappear!!! He's the devil in disguise!!!

[Deutschland]

Well I guess we all can trust putin… he said he will not invade ucraine…. Wait …

[soha_an]

I hope this is true. We don't want war to happen and if it does it'd probably be the end of our civilization

[billdeda]

Say no to WAR . Love ❤️ Ukraine 🇺🇦 Love ❤️ Russia 🇷🇺 Love Europe 💝

[billlot]

He can talk as much as he likes we won't be going back to 1979😀

[einienj]

He would say the exact same thing, after bombing the country to ashes..

[griseohominem]

What Putin says, it's like trusting a wolf to guard your herd of sheep. LOL

[ricardomartins]

How come defensive drills were accompanied with official demands...

[tvwatcher]

I wonder if putin is standing on a box

[Jim_]

Warning, Putin bots in this comments section!

[christophertadeo]

Who does an exercise drill involving 150000 troops?! Apparently, only putin.

[franktionaal]

When Putin plays rock, paper, scissors with the mirror he always wins the match

[scottj]

This could soon be the cuban missile crisis equivalent of our generation. Scary.