“(Russian President Vladimir. -
RT
) Putin wants to stop NATO's eastward expansion and achieve the convening of a large conference on security policy in Europe.
An invasion will only make things worse.
If you don’t believe in the good intentions of the Russian leader, then believe in his pragmatism,” he said.
Mangold also noted that the population of Russia opposes the escalation of the situation, and the authorities are forced to take this into account.
Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said that the latest US statements about Russia's allegedly "imminent invasion" of Ukraine are a new round of disinformation campaign against Russia.