Escalation in Rhetoric: Putin Warns Europe Against War with Russia, States: "No One Will Be Left to Negotiate"

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's firm stance that it does not plan or intend to attack Europe.

However, Putin issued a stark warning directed at Europe, stressing that Russia is immediately prepared to respond should it face any aggression. He told journalists: "We will not wage war with Europe, I said that before. But if Europe launches a surprise war against us, we are immediately ready. There is no doubt about that."

More alarmingly, Putin warned of the catastrophic consequences of any direct military confrontation, stating categorically that if Europe starts a war against Russia, there will be a situation where "no one will be left to negotiate," a clear implication of potential use of weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to this direct warning, Putin accused Ukraine's European allies of "sabotaging US efforts" aimed at ending the war. He stressed that European nations "do not have a peace agenda... and stand on the side of war."

The Russian President also accused Europeans of amending peace proposals and adding demands he described as "absolutely unacceptable to Moscow." Putin believes this behaviour is intended to "obstruct the entire peace process" and then subsequently blame Russia.