President Vladimir Putin sent a blunt message to European capitals this week: any attempt to start a war with Russia would be over far quicker than most anticipate.
Speaking to journalists in comments shared via the Kremlin’s Telegram channel, he emphasized that the dynamics of a potential Europe-Russia confrontation would be very different from the ongoing military operation in Ukraine.
Ukraine Conflict vs. Hypothetical European War
Putin highlighted a distinction between Russia’s current actions in Ukraine and what he described as a full-scale European conflict.
“In Ukraine, we act surgically and carefully,” he said.
“This is not Ukraine. A war with Europe would be very fast.”
He also reiterated that Russia’s operation in Ukraine does not amount to a full-scale war, signaling that the current conflict is being conducted with measured objectives rather than widespread escalation.
No Room Left for Negotiation
The Russian leader warned that should hostilities break out with European states, Moscow could quickly find itself with no counterpart to negotiate with.
As reported by TASS, he stressed the speed of such a hypothetical conflict:
“If Europe suddenly decides to start a war with us and begins one, it could quickly lead to a situation in which we have no one to negotiate with,” Putin said.
This, he implied, would leave little room for diplomacy once hostilities escalate.
Europe Accused of Blocking Peace Initiatives
In addition to issuing warnings, Putin turned his attention to European involvement in Ukraine diplomacy.
According to RIA Novosti, he criticized European governments for interfering with U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker peace.
“They do not like today’s results either, and they have started to interfere with the current administration of the United States and President Trump in achieving peace through negotiations,” he said.
“They themselves rejected peace talks, and now they are hindering President Trump.”
Putin argued that Europe’s proposed amendments to the peace plan were deliberately designed to stall progress, and he claimed that many European governments have stepped back from negotiations entirely.
European Concerns About a Future Conflict
The warnings from Moscow coincide with cautionary notes from European officials.
In early December, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto suggested that Europe might be preparing for the possibility of a military confrontation with Russia by 2030.
Similarly, NATO’s Military Committee chief, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, indicated that the alliance is considering preemptive measures in response to what it describes as Russian aggression, highlighting the tension simmering on both sides.
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