Putin Dismisses “War Hysteria” in Sochi, Calls for Multipolar Diplomacy

At the Sochi forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed what he described as European “war hysteria,” defending Russia’s role on the global stage and calling for a more multipolar world order.

Putin criticized Western policies that he said rely on “hegemonic control,” while praising BRICS nations and other allies for supporting peace initiatives regarding the conflict in Ukraine. He warned that NATO’s continued militarization could destabilize international security and argued that Russia has remained resilient despite sanctions.

The Russian president urged a return to diplomacy, cautioning Western leaders against provoking Moscow. He confirmed that Russia will continue strengthening strategic partnerships while stressing that the country is prepared to respond to any threats against its security or global stability.

In one of the sharper moments of his speech, Putin also referenced NATO’s credibility, remarking:
“If a paper tiger can beat all of NATO… then what is NATO?”

The remarks highlight Moscow’s ongoing criticism of NATO and its calls for a shift away from a unipolar world system dominated by Western powers.