In a joint address with the Slovak prime minister, Putin said that"Europe's claims that Russia is allegedly planning an attack on it are either provocation or complete incompetence".

"Every reasonable person is perfectly aware that Russia has never had, does not have and will never have the desire to attack anyone," Putin said.

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Putin also said that such claims are complete nonsense and have no basis.

"As for Russia's 'aggressive plans towards Europe', I want to emphasize once again that it is complete nonsense that has absolutely no basis," said the Russian leader.

At a meeting in China, Putin told Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitz that Western countries and the military alliance NATO are trying to encompass the entire post-Soviet space and that Russia has no other goals than protecting its interests.