Putin: Russia ready for war with Europe
Russia does not want war with Europe, according to Vladimir Putin.
But if it comes to that, they are prepared.
“If war breaks out, there will be no winners—let Europe not forget that,” he says.
The remarks were made during a meeting between Russia and African nations.
Putin addressed, among other things, warnings from Germany and the UK that NATO could be at war with Russia as early as 2030.
“Many talk about preparing for war by 2030. Is that the right approach? No,” he said, according to TASS, adding:
“First and foremost, we are prepared—but we do not want a war with Europe. If they want one, let them prepare.”
Putin also urged those “European countries advocating for war” to remember that if things go too far, there will be no winners at all.
“Let Europe not forget that,” he says.
Putin downplays the risks of war in 2030.
“The West has not achieved its goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, and it is unlikely they will have succeeded by 2030,” he says.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting recently delivered a speech in Poland in which he warned that Putin is attempting to test NATO’s resolve.
He emphasized the importance of being prepared for a scenario in which the UK and its NATO allies find themselves at war with Russia. “Not that we want war. We have no quarrel with the Russian people and no desire to go to war with Russia. NATO is a defensive alliance,” he says, and continues:
“But when Putin assures us that he has no intention of provoking a war with NATO, we are reminded of what he said about Ukraine just days before the invasion.”
