“They can’t believe what they’re saying, that Russia is going to attack NATO,” he said. We simply cannot ignore what is happening.”Putin singled out Germany, noting claims that the German army aims to become Europe’s strongest. Tensions between Russia and the European Union have surged since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting NATO to bolster its defenses. In a stark warning to Ukraine, Putin suggested Moscow could retaliate if Ukrainian forces strike nuclear facilities under Russian control. Referencing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, he said, “They still have functional nuclear power plants on their side.