Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning Tuesday, stating Russia is prepared for war with Europe should European nations initiate hostilities. The declaration came ahead of scheduled meetings in Moscow with U.S. envoy steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law to former President Donald Trump, focused on a U.S.-led peace proposal for Russia and Ukraine.
Putin’s comments signal escalating tensions amid ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. While asserting Russia does not seek war with Europe,he firmly stated readiness to respond if provoked. This posture reflects a growing sense of isolation from European powers, whom Putin accuses of obstructing peace talks by severing diplomatic ties with Russia and effectively aligning themselves with Ukraine in the conflict.
“We are not planning war with Europe, but if Europe wants it and starts it, we are ready right now,” Putin said, according to reports from AFP and Reuters.He further claimed European nations have excluded themselves from meaningful participation in peace negotiations due to their severed contacts with Moscow, characterizing them as being ”on the warring side.”
Kushner and Witkoff arrived in Moscow following a series of diplomatic engagements in Florida, Geneva, and Abu Dhabi. Their mission is to present a revised U.S. peace plan to putin,addressing concerns raised by Kyiv and other European nations regarding perceived concessions to Moscow in earlier iterations of the proposal.
A senior Kyiv official indicated a potential meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and Witkoff and Kushner as early as Wednesday in Brussels. The outcome of these discussions could substantially impact the trajectory of Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II.