Vladimir Putin called the idea that Russia could attack Nato “b—-s” as he told a meeting in Moscow that he has no “imperial ambitions”.

”They’ve come up with this idea that Russia wants to attack Nato,” he told Western journalists in a rare meeting.

“Have you lost your mind? Are you as thick as two short planks? Who made this up? It’s nonsense, it’s bollocks.

”There is no need to look for some imperial ambitions of ours. There are none.”

Russia denied for months that it was preparing a military offensive in Ukraine before launching the assault, accusing Nato powers of trying to use their Ukrainian ally to harm Russia.

It has been extremely rare for Putin to address international journalists since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine and he has not taken questions from Western journalists since the invasion. 

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