The West, fronted by NATO, is actively preparing for war against Russia, President Vladimir Putin told hundreds of his country’s newest army officers on Tuesday.

The members of the Western alliance have so far limited themselves to supporting Ukraine, Putin told graduates of Russian military academies gathered in the Kremlin in Moscow.

Now, he said, there is open talk in the West “that they are preparing for a war against us and increasing their military and offensive budgets.”

To justify this militarization, NATO and EU states are using false claims about a military threat from Russia, Putin said in an official transcript of his speech.

Nearly 40% of Russia’s budget expenditures currently go toward the military, armaments and security.

However, according to Putin, Moscow advocates a multipolar system of international relations that guarantees the military security of every state.

“At the same time, we are prepared to respond operationally and appropriately to all external and internal threats,” the 73-year-old leader warned.

Putin ordered a full-scale military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, prompting the EU and NATO states to respond with extensive military, financial and political support for Kiev.

With no end of the war in sight, the same countries have become increasingly concerned about their own security vulnerabilities and are now increasing their military capabilities in case of conflict.

Read More: Putin: NATO preparing for war against Russia