Formally, it was addressed to Russian diplomats, but its content indicates that it was a message to the international community, primarily to representatives of states that intended to participate in the Summit in Bürgenstock.

In his speech, Putin traditionally shifted responsibility for the war and the international security crisis to the West, but at the same time, he tried to provoke contradictions within the Euro-Atlantic community. Putin declared the United States to be a “real threat” to Europe. It is the U.S. that forces the Europeans to mass-produce artillery shells for Ukraine, which “no one will need when the conflict ends,” instead of developing their own high-tech weapons. And in general, according to Putin, the U.S. brutally uses European leaders in their interests, and they “are more afraid of falling out of favour with Washington than of losing the trust of their citizens.” Moscow has been spreading this anti-American narrative to European audiences for many years in a row. And the Kremlin considers the strengthening of right-wing populist movements in the European Parliament as its success, which should be further developed.

Read more: https://ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3875884-failed-bluff-putin