The Kremlin said that European claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to restore the Soviet Union were wrong and that claims Putin plans to invade a NATO member were complete stupidity.

Axar.az informs, citing TASS, “This is not true,” Peskov said, responding to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s claim that NATO’s increasing militarization is driven by Putin’s alleged desire to revive the USSR.

“Vladimir Putin does not want to restore the USSR because it is impossible. He has said this many times himself. Suggesting otherwise shows a lack of respect for our partners, our allies in the CIS, and for more advanced forms of integration. Apparently, Mr. Merz is not aware of this,” added the Kremlin representative.

“As for preparing an attack on NATO — that is complete stupidity. Once again, I urge everyone to listen to the primary source — our President [Vladimir] Putin,” Peskov said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Putin wanted to bring the “old Soviet Union” back and that Europe had to defend itself against what he said were clear Russian intentions, set out, he said, in Russian state doctrines, to attack NATO.