Putin issues threat while calling for better relations with Europe
Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is prepared for a potential war with Europe in his latest threat, though he emphasized that Moscow does not want one, reports BritPanorama.
The Russian president expressed support for any steps aimed at restoring relations with European countries while commenting on his phone call with the leaders of Norway and Finland, which took place on Tuesday.
In a chilling warning, he noted that if tensions escalated too far, there would be no winners. He added that Moscow did not want the Baltic Sea to face a situation similar to that in the Strait of Hormuz.
Responses from European countries were swift, particularly after Norway and Finland’s leaders broke convention to speak directly with Putin. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere held “frank and substantive” talks with the Russian president, aiming to influence the Kremlin’s position as the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold.
Stoere indicated that both he and Stubb stressed the importance of de-escalation during their discussions, voicing strong support for Ukraine. However, their actions drew criticism from Nordic counterparts, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who urged Europe’s leaders to “stick together” on issues concerning Ukraine.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted that other European leaders were not informed of the discussions, causing further contention.
Meanwhile, British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that the UK must be prepared for war within 1,000 days, advising citizens to stock up on essential supplies.
In a separate incident on Thursday, a jet-powered Russian drone struck two trains at a station in central Ukraine, killing at least 13 people and injuring 10 others, officials confirmed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, describing it as horrific.
This incident comes amid a fragile truce that has been observed in and around the southern Ukrainian city since Tuesday, despite ongoing wartime engagements that have persisted since Russia’s all-out invasion four years ago.
Zelenskyy’s characterization of the drone strike underscores the complexities surrounding previous ceasefire attempts, which often failed or frayed quickly under pressure.
