Putin: Russia “ready” if Europe wants war

December 02, 2025 / 8:03 PM

Russia's President Vladimir Putin during his visit to a command post for the joint force grouping

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday stated that Russia is prepared for war if Europe seeks one, accusing European leaders of attempting to sabotage a deal on the Ukraine conflict. His remarks came ahead of meetings with US envoys in Moscow.

High-stakes US envoy visit

US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, following days of intense diplomacy.

Russia’s stance on European actions

Putin told reporters, “We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now.” He added that Europe has “no peaceful agenda” and claimed European leaders were obstructing US efforts to broker peace in Ukraine.

Criticism of amendments to peace plan

Putin criticized European changes to Trump’s latest peace plan, saying they were intended to block the peace process and impose unacceptable demands on Russia. The 28-point draft, proposed by Washington, was amended after concerns from Kyiv and European countries that it favored Russian demands.

Trump’s peace initiative and European concerns

The peace plan, championed by Trump, has raised European fears that Kyiv could be pressured into concessions, particularly regarding territory. European leaders insist that any settlement must not unfairly disadvantage Ukraine.

Current status of negotiations

Trump’s envoys are now working to finalize the plan with the approval of both Moscow and Kyiv, amid ongoing tensions and concerns over potential Russian aggression.