Putin: "Europe is hiding its loss of prestige by talking about preparing for war with Russia."

"Europe is trying to save its plummeting prestige and cover up its mistakes by talking about preparing for war against Russia."

Vladimir Putin said this, according to Tass. According to the Russian president , the West "is using Ukrainians as cannon fodder."

Russia, Putin said, "takes note of the European exercises in the Baltic Sea simulating the seizure of civilian vessels."

"A key objective of the new state program," added the Kremlin leader on the day Russians are called to vote in elections with a more than predictable outcome, "will be the improvement of the air defense system, which must guarantee the destruction of any air and space attack weapons."

"It is necessary to fully complete the formation of the orbital grouping of spacecraft," he added, emphasizing that "this will enhance the capabilities of all types of space reconnaissance, navigation, satellite communications, and broadband Internet access for real-time command and control of troops and weapons."

(Unioneonline)