Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that a direct military confrontation between Russia and European countries would leave no winners, declaring that Moscow is prepared for war but has no desire to engage in one.
Putin's comments come amid renewed diplomatic contacts with European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who held telephone discussions with the Russian leader on Tuesday.
According to Sky News, Putin maintained that Russia was ready to defend itself against any confrontation but stressed that it did not want a war with Europe.
“We are prepared for war, but we do not want war,” he said, warning that an escalation of tensions could have devastating consequences for all sides.
The Russian president also expressed support for efforts to rebuild diplomatic relations between Moscow and European countries.
Reuters reported that Stubb and Støre used their approximately 90-minute conversations with Putin to urge him to bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Following their discussions, the two Nordic leaders also held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict continued.
The renewed engagement comes ahead of anticipated US-mediated discussions involving Russian, Ukrainian and American officials in November.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a prolonged conflict that has reshaped European security relations and heightened tensions between Moscow and Western governments.
Putin's latest remarks reflect the Kremlin's position that Russia remains militarily prepared for a wider confrontation, even as it signals willingness to explore the restoration of diplomatic relations with European capitals.
Moscow has repeatedly denied harbouring intentions to attack European countries. However, its military activities and the continuation of the Ukraine war have heightened security concerns among European governments, particularly members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The latest diplomatic overtures have also highlighted differing positions within Europe on how to deal with the Russian president.
While some European leaders believe direct engagement with Moscow could help prevent further escalation and give Europe a greater role in peace negotiations, others remain sceptical about the prospects of meaningful progress, arguing that Russia has yet to demonstrate a significant shift in its position on Ukraine.
Putin's warning comes against the backdrop of growing concerns that a broader confrontation between Russia and European countries could draw NATO members into a potentially devastating conflict, with consequences extending far beyond the battlefield.
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