Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is prepared for a military clash if European countries choose confrontation. He accused European governments of blocking diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking during an investment forum in Moscow, Putin said, “We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now.”
The Russian president added that European leaders were no longer focusing on negotiations and instead supporting continued fighting in Ukraine.
Putin said European nations were making demands about the conflict that Russia cannot accept. He also accused them of blocking efforts by the United States President Donald Trump to work toward a negotiated settlement.
According to Putin, European countries were on the side of war, referring to their positions on the Ukraine issue.
His comments come as US envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner meet officials in Moscow to discuss possible steps to end nearly four years of fighting. Washington has shared a 28-point peace proposal that was revised after objections from Kyiv and European capitals. They criticised the first draft for appearing too favourable to Russia’s conditions.
European governments have expressed concerns that any peace deal could pressurise Ukraine to surrender territory now controlled by Russian forces. Putin also announced a stronger military response, saying Russia would step up attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels after recent incidents at sea.
He called the recent strikes on Russian tankers “piracy”. He added that “the most radical solution is to cut Ukraine off from the sea, then piracy will be impossible”.
Earlier, a Ukrainian security official said naval drones had targeted two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load oil for export. On Tuesday, a Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil was allegedly hit by a drone off Turkey’s coast. Turkey’s maritime authority and the Tribeca shipping agency said all 13 crew members were safe. However, Ukraine denied any involvement in that attack.
Ukraine had earlier carried out missile and drone strikes on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, disrupting oil shipping operations.
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