Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was prepared for war with Europe but did not want a conflict, warning there would be no winners if a confrontation went too far.
He spoke to reporters in Moscow after a summit with African leaders, two days after a joint telephone call with the leaders of Finland and Norway over efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“First of all, we are ready, but we want no war with Europe. And if anyone wants it, let them prepare, but right now they have not achieved their goal: to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. And if things go too far, there will be no winners at all. Let no one forget that,” he said.
Putin also said Moscow supported steps to restore full relations with European countries. He said Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had been right to make the call despite criticism from some European capitals that they were breaking ranks by contacting Moscow.