Putin says Western calls for preparation for war with Russia ‘a lie’

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Kazbek Kokov, head of the North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria, in Moscow

MOSCOW, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that there were some calls in the West to prepare for a major war with Russia and he described this as “hysteria” and “a lie”.

He also said that if Ukraine and the West abandon peace talks, then Russia will take the lands it claims in Ukraine by military means.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Felix Light)