Putin warns Europe he’s ‘ready for war’ and vows ‘there will be no winners at all’ as he hints at new flashpoint

Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned Russia is ready for conflict with Europe, whereas sustaining that Moscow doesn’t need such a battle. Speaking at a Russia–Africa summit in Moscow, Putin warned European nations in opposition to confrontation and claimed that Western efforts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia had failed.

“We are ready for war with Europe, but we don’t want it,” he mentioned. “As for them, if anyone desires such a thing, let them prepare.” Putin argued that the West was unlikely to realize its aims in opposition to Russia by 2030 and warned concerning the penalties of additional escalation. “If things go too far, there will be no winners at all,” he mentioned.

He additionally mentioned Moscow didn’t need the Baltic Sea to expertise a state of affairs just like that within the Strait of Hormuz. The comparability referred to disruption across the strategic waterway in the course of the Iran conflict, which the report linked to gas shortages and rising costs. His remarks got here amid issues about alleged Russian hybrid operations in opposition to NATO nations, together with suspected sabotage, surveillance and airspace incursions.

According to the report, Germany raised its evaluation of the chance of conflict with Russia to its second-highest stage earlier this month. The report additionally referred to suspicions of Russian involvement in fires focusing on a home and automotive linked to former British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. It didn’t set up Putin’s private involvement.

Russia has individually been accused of utilizing fishing vessels to collect intelligence about British undersea cables. The report cited incidents involving Russian drones and navy plane in Latvian and Estonian airspace. It additionally mentioned French fighter jets working beneath NATO scrambled in response to a drone that entered Latvian airspace.

The warnings coincided with additional assaults in Ukraine. According to the report, a Russian strike on a railway station left 14 folks useless, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to name for motion from the United States and Europe. Zelensky described the assault as “horrific”.

The railway strike adopted a Ukrainian assault on Moscow whereas Russia was internet hosting the summit. Delegations from 48 nations, together with 22 heads of state, reportedly attended the gathering, which supplied Putin with a chance to exhibit Russia’s persevering with worldwide partnerships regardless of the conflict in Ukraine.

Photographs from the summit additionally attracted consideration on-line, together with photographs of Putin standing beside Mozambique’s president, Daniel Chapo, who’s reported to be 6ft 8in tall. The report alleged that the Kremlin sought to restrict the circulation of these images, however didn’t present proof establishing that declare.