Putin says Russia is ready for war with Europe but does not want one
After the Russia-Africa summit, the Kremlin leader warned there would be 'no winners' if things escalated. He praised a call with Norway and Finland and threatened a response in the Baltic.
Archive image · Photo: Пресс-служба Президента России / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia is prepared for a possible conflict with Europe but does not want one. "We're ready, but we don't want any war with Europe," he told reporters in Moscow after a summit with African leaders. "If things go too far, there will be no winners at all," Putin warned. He questioned European assessments that Russia is preparing for a military conflict by 2030.
Moscow supports "any actions aimed at restoring full-fledged and complete relations with European countries", Putin said. This week's phone call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb was right despite criticism from some European capitals, he said. According to media reports, the situation in the Baltic Sea was also discussed in the calls.
Restrictions on communication in the Baltic could lead to a situation like the one in the Strait of Hormuz, Putin warned. "We don't want that, but we will respond to any challenge," he said. The remarks come amid continuing Russian strikes on Ukraine and preparations for a new round of three-way talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia.