PUTIN SAYS HE WON'T START A WAR WITH NATO

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin scoffed at the possibility of his country launching an attack on a NATO member, calling it 'sheer nonsense,' but warned that any Western air base hosting USmade F-16 fighter jets that are slated for deployment in Ukraine would be a 'legitimate target' for the Kremlin's forces.

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"Their statements about our alleged intention to attack Europe after Ukraine is sheer nonsense,' Putin said late Wednesday, referring to warnings in the US and Western Europe that Russia could turn its sights on other countries unless it is stopped.

He noted that the US defence budget is more than 10 times higher than Russia's. 'In view of that, are we going to wage a war against NATO? It's ravings,' he said during a visit to an air base.