MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that threats to Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania, are fraught with large-scale conflict.

Speaking at a special year-end news conference in Moscow, Putin expressed hope no one would attack the Russian enclave region in Europe.

"I hope that doesn't happen. If threats of this kind are created against us, we will destroy these threats, and everyone must understand this and be aware that actions of this kind will simply lead to an escalation of the conflict unseen until now," he said.

He warned that any attack against the Kaliningrad region would elevate the conflict "to a completely different level and expand it into a large-scale armed conflict." "Everyone must be aware of this," he added.

Commenting on statements by European politicians about a war with Russia, Putin claimed they are purposefully "creating an enemy of Russia to cover their own mistakes, to divert attention from their missteps."

"We are ready to work with the UK, with Europe as a whole, and with the US, but on equal terms, with respect for each other," he said, adding that everyone would benefit from cooperation between Europe and Russia.

"It's clear that this is all theoretical, but it's quite obvious that by combining and complementing our capabilities, we would prosper, and not fight with each other, as you do with Russia," he told a British reporter.

Putin described the behavior of "some European leaders" as "aggressive and not very professional," citing remarks by NATO Secretary-General Marc Rutte as an example.

He praised Rutte as a clever and efficient official whom he knew personally, adding: "But when he speaks about the war with Russia I want to ask him - What nonsense are you spouting?"

Putin also pointed out that Russia is no longer designated as a potential wartime adversary in US military doctrine, questioning how a US-led military bloc can prepare for war with a country not considered a potential danger by its leading member.

Regarding US President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC, Putin said he believed Trump is right and that "distortion of information indeed took place."

According to him, European political elites "directly interfered in the US political affairs," openly supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and now planning to use the upcoming US parliamentary elections to pressure Trump.

"They expect that after the midterm elections to the US Congress next fall, the political landscape will change somewhat and they will have their traditional allies, they will be able to exert more pressure on President Trump," he said.