Putin Says Continuation of International Conflicts Is Highly Likely as World Changes

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that international conflicts were highly likely to continue as the world changed, but that the situation would get better as what he called Western hegemony waned.

"Regardless of which scenario unfolds globally in the coming years, the continuation of international conflicts is, unfortunately, highly likely," he said at the Valdai Forum of international Russia experts in Moscow.

"This is due in part to the fact that ongoing fundamental shifts — and the opportunities they present — fuel ambitions and a willingness to take risks for the sake of a seemingly massive payoff," Putin said.

He also said it was impossible to be sure that weapons of mass destruction would never be used, and stressed the need to prevent such a scenario.

"Can we be sure this weapon will never be used? Of course not. We must keep this in mind and avoid it," he said.

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