Putin: ‘Europe should be more independent, defend own interests’

[cryptocoiner]

Putin: ‘Europe should be more independent, defend own interests’

 European countries should be less beholden to military blocks and the US when considering issues concerning their own national interests, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Swiss RTS TV channel. Putin also talked FIFA scandal and Islamic terrorism.

“It would be great to see Europe show more independence and sovereignty, and the ability to stand up for its national interests – the interests of its peoples and countries,” Putin said in an interview with RTS published on Monday.

He added that he “hopes” another war in Europe is not in the cards.

The Russian leader added that a certain level of sovereignty is undoubtedly lost when joining any "any military-political organization [or] military-political bloc." Putin noted that “France withdrew from NATO in order to preserve its sovereignty to a greater extent than would have been possible had it been part of the organization,” referring to the French withdrawal from NATO in the 1960s. France fully returned to the military bloc only in 2009.

http://www.rt.com/news/310908-putin-eu-us-politics/

[Daniel91]

It seems to me that Putin here plays a very clever game.
On the one hand he is trying to undermine the unity of the European countries and America and weaken the Atlantic alliance.
On the other hand trying to appear as a natural ally and friend of Europe.
In fact, Putin is trying to strengthen his political position and restore the former Russian influence in Europe.
His true intentions and policies can be seen in Ukraine and other neighboring countries.

[cryptocoiner]

It seems to me that Putin here plays a very clever game.
On the one hand he is trying to undermine the unity of the European countries and America and weaken the Atlantic alliance.
On the other hand trying to appear as a natural ally and friend of Europe.
In fact, Putin is trying to strengthen his political position and restore the former Russian influence in Europe.
His true intentions and policies can be seen in Ukraine and other neighboring countries.

He is trying to recreate russian empire, a new superpower again. This will not lead us to nowhere good. Time of empires has ended. What he will create is only pain, blood and suffering.

[saddampbuh]

there is no "atlantic alliance" there are european and american governments under the thumb of international jewry used as paws to spread conflict and instability across the globe. russia may be our last hope.

[superpanos2]

Hopefully some day Europe will shift from its current "Atlantic Alliance" model and go it's own route.
An independent Europe will help in stabilizing the World System.
This is what Putin want's. Of course he's a bit of anti-American, but still,
who wouldn't worldwide stability? The dollar worldwide dominance doesn't help.
Hopefully bitcoin will push dollar away.

[bryant.coleman]

Europe is a dying continent, which is dependent upon the Americans for most of the basic needs (especially defense). A few decades ago, one-third of the world population lived within the British Empire. The United Kingdom possessed one of the most powerful armed forces in the world. Look at the situation now. The UK has become another vassal state of the US. And the strength of the British Army is now in the tens of thousands.

[ridery99]

Europe is a dying continent, which is dependent upon the Americans for most of the basic needs (especially defense). A few decades ago, one-third of the world population lived within the British Empire. The United Kingdom possessed one of the most powerful armed forces in the world. Look at the situation now. The UK has become another vassal state of the US. And the strength of the British Army is now in the tens of thousands.

Europe is all about homosexualism and decline. I hope china & russia will do something about it

[blablahblah]

Europe is a dying continent, which is dependent upon the Americans for most of the basic needs (especially defense). A few decades ago, one-third of the world population lived within the British Empire. The United Kingdom possessed one of the most powerful armed forces in the world. Look at the situation now. The UK has become another vassal state of the US. And the strength of the British Army is now in the tens of thousands.

Europe is all about homosexualism and decline. I hope china & russia will do something about it

You sound oddly threatened by phenomena that are naturally self-limiting and harmless to onlookers (homosexuality and ageing). The Russians have obviously learnt to "talk big" from the Americans, but if China ever got annoyed with Russian arrogance, they could just round up some of 10s of millions of gays in their population, give them guns, and have them defeat the Russian army by lunchtime.


*insert funny meme with Putin imagining that he's securely holding the Chinese bear on a chain, while the bear is thinking about eating Putin for breakfast, and he's already holding a bottle of BBQ soy sauce in his paw (to add flavour to Putin's body).*

[AtheistAKASaneBrain]

Europe is a dying continent, which is dependent upon the Americans for most of the basic needs (especially defense). A few decades ago, one-third of the world population lived within the British Empire. The United Kingdom possessed one of the most powerful armed forces in the world. Look at the situation now. The UK has become another vassal state of the US. And the strength of the British Army is now in the tens of thousands.

I think you are a bit delusional with such claim. Sure, Europe is undergoing an huge crisis, but then again what country isn't? American's multitrillion dollar debt's situation isn't any better. Europe will always have amazing touristic points of interest and is still the leading manufacturer of cars. No one makes cars better than the Germans and I doubt anyone can surpass them. This alone moves millions all over the world.

[blablahblah]

Europe is a dying continent, which is dependent upon the Americans for most of the basic needs (especially defense). A few decades ago, one-third of the world population lived within the British Empire. The United Kingdom possessed one of the most powerful armed forces in the world. Look at the situation now. The UK has become another vassal state of the US. And the strength of the British Army is now in the tens of thousands.

I think you are a bit delusional with such claim. Sure, Europe is undergoing an huge crisis, but then again what country isn't? American's multitrillion dollar debt's situation isn't any better. Europe will always have amazing touristic points of interest and is still the leading manufacturer of cars. No one makes cars better than the Germans and I doubt anyone can surpass them. This alone moves millions all over the world.

The "huge crisis" is also constantly promoted by media, and anyone who finds it convenient. If a government or business is failing at something -- it's the crisis! See how bad it is?!

But if they're succeeding -- look at how great we are in spite of the crisis! Long live the crisis!!

Also, the pattern I see is that Western Europe is suffering much more because of natural stagnation. All of the houses and building projects that needed to be done have already been built. Their economies are moving into maintenance mode, which is completely normal if there hasn't been a war (or natural disaster) in a while. Meanwhile, a lot of development is creeping east, into the former Soviet bloc, which is still a lot more shitty because of the legacy of Russian economic incompetence. The Russians don't even seem to realise (or are deliberately blind to it) that the combined EU economy is around the same size as the US, maybe even bigger.