President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that European leaders have continued stoking and hyping fears that Russia seeks expansion and that it is prepared even to go to war with EU and NATO countries. He went so far as to call EU officials “European swine” for their role in fueling the proxy war. He again emphasized that Moscow is in no way seeking war with Europe. “I have repeatedly stated: this is a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense about some imaginary Russian threat to European countries. But this is being done quite deliberately,” he said. The Kremlin has repeatedly accused EU leaders of seeking to thwart peace, while praising that Washington’s efforts to forge a deal under Trump appear genuine and are in good faith. However, the Trump admin is currently said to be preparing more sanctions on Russia’s energy sector if Moscow persists in rejecting a peace deal. All the while, Zelensky is trying to “have is cake and eat it too” by on the one hand embracing the West’s offer of ‘Article 5-style’ security guarantees and on the other refusing to make territorial concessions. Putin in his Wednesday remarks remained undeterred, vowing that Russia will accomplish its goals in Ukraine […]