Kremlin says European claims Putin desires to assault NATO and restore the USSR are ‘full stupidity’
The Kremlin said European claims that Vladimir Putin wanted to restore the Soviet Union and attack NATO were complete stupidity.
Putin, who was born in the Soviet Union, in 2005 cast the collapse of the Soviet Union as the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century because tens of millions of Russians were impoverished and Russia itself faced the threat of disintegration.
Opponents say Putin’s Russia is decaying in a potent brew of absurdity and repression that is comparable to the Leonid Brezhnev-era of the Soviet Union.
Western leaders say that Putin, if he wins in Ukraine, will one day attack NATO.
Putin has repeatedly denied that he has any plans to attack NATO and has said that such a step would be foolish for Russia given the conventional military superiority of NATO over Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Putin wanted to bring the ‘old Soviet Union’ back and that Europe had to defend itself against what he said were clear Russian intentions, set out, he said, in Russian state doctrines, to attack NATO.
‘This is not true,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Merz’s remarks. ‘Vladimir Putin does not want to restore the USSR because it is impossible, and he himself has repeatedly said this.’
‘To talk about it is not respectful to our partners,’ Peskov said. ‘Apparently, Mr. Merz does not know this. As for preparing for an attack on NATO, this is complete stupidity,’ Peskov said.
Putin has repeatedly denied that he has any plans to attack NATO and has said that such a step would be foolish for Russia given the conventional military superiority of NATO over Russia
Firefighters working to extinguish a fire following a Russian drone and missile attacks to industrial and energy infrastructures in the Poltava region, on December 7, 2025
Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of the overnight Russian missile and drone strikes in the Poltava region of Ukraine, December, 7, 2025
It comes as Ukraine is set to present a revised 20-point peace plan to the US on Tuesday after Zelensky was promised billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets held in the UK to fund its war effort.
Kyiv is under pressure from the White House to agree swiftly to a peace settlement, while desperately trying to counterbalance a US-backed draft proposal that has been widely viewed as favourable to Moscow.
A hastily convened summit on Monday at Downing Street, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Merz and Zelensky, was designed to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating hand.
Speaking after the meeting, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine’s revised plan contains 20 points, but admitted that the biggest issue – surrendering territory – remains unresolved.
‘The mood of the Americans, in principle, is for finding a compromise,’ he said. ‘Of course, there are complex issues related to the territory, and a compromise has not yet been found there’.
He again insisted that Ukraine could not give up any of its land.
In a dramatic financial twist, Sir Keir also told Zelensky he was ready to allow Ukraine to use billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets held in the UK to fund its war effort.
Whitehall sources told Daily Mail that ministers are close to agreeing a deal granting Kyiv access to vast sums seized after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
One source said a decision could be taken ‘within days’ to unlock Kremlin-linked assets estimated to be worth around £8billion.
‘He is updating Zelensky on the wider support on offer to Ukraine, including using the value of immobilised Russian assets,’ the source said. ‘We hope to see movement on that issue soon.’
The push forms part of a wider European effort that could unlock tens of billion of pounds frozen across the continent.
However, the idea of permanently seizing Russian assets has triggered legal and diplomatic fears.
Belgium, where much of the money is held, has resisted the move over concerns about reprisals, including possible legal action from the Kremlin.
Sir Keir is expected to raise the issue with Belgian counterparts this week.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (2L), President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L), President of France Emmanuel Macron (R) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stand outside 10 Downing Street after a meeting in London, United Kingdom on December 8, 2025
In a dramatic financial twist, Sir Keir also told Zelensky he was ready to allow Ukraine to use billions of pounds of frozen Russian assets held in the UK to fund its war effort
Meanwhile Zelensky flew to Brussels where he met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, who both insisted any deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and guarantee long-term security.
Writing on Telegram, Zelensky described his meetings with the EU chiefs and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte as ‘good and productive. We are acting in a coordinated and constructive manner’.
British government sources said Monday’s talks also focused on proposals to use frozen Russian assets across Europe, with leaders from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden urging the European Union to accelerate stalled plans to release funds to Kyiv.
The European powers are also pushing for US security guarantees to deter future Russian attacks, following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The publication of an American ceasefire plan last month has sharpened fears among European leaders that Ukraine could be forced into accepting sweeping Russian demands, potentially destabilising the entire continent.
Despite US officials claiming they are at the final stage of an agreement, there has been little sign that either side is ready to sign off on the framework drawn up by Donald Trump’s negotiators.
‘We stand with Ukraine and, if there was to be a ceasefire, it has to be a just and lasting ceasefire,’ Sir Keir said after welcoming the leaders to Downing Street.
