Putin says Russia does not want conflict but is prepared for possible war with Europe
Putin told discussions with Finland's Alexander Stubb and Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre that Moscow prefers restored relations but is prepared if Europe escalates.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow does not want an armed conflict with Europe but is ready for that scenario if European countries choose to escalate tensions. He framed the remarks as a conditional warning while expressing support for steps to rebuild ties with European states.
Context of meetings with Nordic leaders
Putin made the comments in the context of talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, calling those meetings a move in the right direction. He also warned that in any war there would be "no winners."
Separately, Putin said the West had failed in its objective of delivering a strategic defeat of Russia, portraying that as evidence the current confrontation has not produced the outcome some Western capitals sought.
Western intelligence assessments, however, have warned of the possibility that Moscow could probe NATO's defensive capabilities through limited military or hybrid operations, including cyberattacks in Eastern Europe. Those assessments see testing and signalling as tools Moscow might use short of full-scale invasion.
Media reports discussed a further scenario in which Russia would seek to use any future peace talks on Ukraine to request changes to NATO's security posture in Eastern Europe. Possible demands mentioned include reductions in Alliance troop presence in Poland, the Baltic states and Finland.
The statements underline a mix of diplomatic outreach and deterrent messaging from Moscow, while Western officials monitor potential moves that could challenge NATO deployments in the region.
Photo: press material from the event
