Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia does not want to wage war with European powers. But if Europe wants war, he said, Russia is ready to fight. He also accused Europe of trying to sabotage talks on a peace plan for Ukraine shortly before meeting with US negotiators in Moscow.
"We are not planning a war with Europe, but if Europe wants and starts one, we are ready to respond immediately," Putin said. He also accused European countries of obstructing US President Donald Trump's peace efforts. He noted that in the event of war,"there will be no one left with whom to negotiate peace."
Putin test-fired missiles from the nuclear triad JARS and Sineva
Putin claims that European governments are making demands in connection with the US peace plan for Ukraine that Moscow considers absolutely unacceptable.
According to him, the intention of European states is to sabotage the negotiations and then blame Russia for their eventual failure. He also stated that no one excluded Europe from the talks on Ukraine and that it withdrew from them on its own.
US President's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are currently in Moscow to discuss the US peace plan for Ukraine with Putin.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow's rhetoric towards Europe has escalated dramatically. Statements and gestures by the Russian president and many state leaders clearly indicate that Russia sees EU member states and their armaments as a potential target and threat.
In March 2024, Putin stated in an interview with Russian media that Russia was prepared for nuclear war. According to him, Russia's nuclear arsenal is more advanced than anything else and if the West sends troops to Ukraine, Moscow considers it a serious threat to its security.
In October 2025, at an international conference in Sochi, Putin directly warned that Russia would respond"strongly and quickly" to what he called the "militarization of Europe." He warned that when countries like Germany declare ambitions to become the strongest army in Europe, Moscow is watching these steps and will not ignore them.
German Taurus missiles would find Russians everywhere. (Archive video)
According to him, Russia will not give up and"will never show weakness or indecision," and warned that there are ideological and strategic forces trying to convince the West that Russia poses a threat to NATO.
The European Union responded to Moscow's continued threats and destabilizing activities by extending restrictive measures against individuals and entities responsible for such activities, including interference against the EU and its member states.
The EU and its member states are increasingly openly warning that Russia poses a long-term strategic risk to the stability of the continent—not only due to military threats, but also disinformation, hybrid operations, and economic pressure.
The threat of nuclear attack, warnings of militarization, statements of"readiness" and repeated warnings are a signal that Moscow perceives a possible military conflict with Europe as real.
