While presiding over a meeting of the Russian Military Industry Council on September 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that some European leaders publicly claimed that they were preparing for war with Russia, but they only used this to save their declining approval ratings and cover up their mistakes in economic and social policies, but the results were minimal and unhelpful. Putin said that Europeans have made it clear that they do not want to go to war with Russia, but some European leaders have instead continued to increase tension and treat Ukrainians as cannon fodder. Putin stressed that Russia has no aggressive intentions against European countries and is willing to cooperate and restore relations with European neighbors.

While presiding over a meeting of the Russian Military Industry Council on September 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that some European leaders publicly claimed that they were preparing for war with Russia, but they only used this to save their declining approval ratings and cover up their mistakes in economic and social policies, but the results were minimal and unhelpful. Putin said that Europeans have made it clear that they do not want to go to war with Russia, but some European leaders have instead continued to increase tension and treat Ukrainians as cannon fodder. Putin stressed that Russia has no aggressive intentions against European countries and is willing to cooperate and restore relations with European neighbors.