Russia is not planning to fight European countries, but if Europe decides to go to war with Russia, Moscow is “ready right now”, Vladimir Putin has said today.
Euro News has reported that the Russian president sought to blame European countries for what he described as not having a “peaceful agenda” and being “on the side of war”.
President Putin made his remarks at an investment forum today in Moscow, as Ireland welcomed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to speak in the Dáil today where he thanked Ireland for continuing to be a voice for his country.
However, Putin said that European governments lived “under illusions” of defeating Russia, and said that: “If Europe decides to go to war with Russia and actually starts a war, a situation could very quickly come where Moscow simply has no one to negotiate with.”
Putin also said that the Kremlin’s position was to negotiate only US administration, saying Russia would not allow European leaders at the talks, claiming they were a hindrance.
The Russian President is currently meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner in Moscow for talks on the war in Ukraine where some observers estimate more than a million soldiers have been killed or injured.
Moscow have refused to allow Ukraine’s President into the negotiations.
Volodymyr Zelensky said today that “Now more than ever, there is a chance to end this war” – adding that some things “still need to be worked out”. He reiterated Ukraine’s hopes of joining the European Union.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused President Putin of intensifying “Russia’s relentless onslaught” even as hopes for peace were raised and added that Putin “must never be allowed to succeed”.