Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned European countries against escalating tensions with Moscow, saying Russia is prepared for a potential war but does not want a military confrontation with Europe.
Putin made the remarks on Thursday, October 29, during a press conference following the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. He was responding to discussions among European leaders about preparing for a possible conflict with Russia by 2030.
“First of all, we are ready, but we do not want any war with Europe,” Putin said, adding that countries seeking confrontation should prepare for the consequences. He warned that if tensions escalated too far, “there will be no winners at all.”
The Russian leader also insisted that Western efforts to inflict what he described as a strategic defeat on Russia had failed and were unlikely to succeed by 2030. He said Moscow remained open to restoring relations with European countries, either collectively through the European Union or through bilateral engagements.
His comments come amid growing security concerns across Europe over Russia’s war in Ukraine, military activities and alleged hybrid operations targeting European countries. European governments have increasingly called for stronger defence capabilities and greater preparedness against potential security threats.
Putin’s latest warning follows earlier remarks in October in which he said Russia would consider using all weapons at its disposal if its territory came under direct attack. Those comments raised concerns about the possibility of a wider confrontation involving NATO, although his latest statement did not explicitly predict World War III.
The tensions have also intensified debate over Europe’s military readiness and dependence on external defence and communications infrastructure. TheDailyNewsHub previously reported on European efforts to develop satellite alternatives amid security concerns over reliance on Starlink.