Camilla Jessen
Putin issues stark new warning to Europe ahead of U.S.–Russia contacts.
Vladimir Putin has delivered one of his harshest messages to European governments in months, suggesting that a conflict sparked by Europe could escalate so severely that Moscow would be left with “no one to negotiate with.”
His remarks were carried by Russian media after an economic forum on Tuesday.
The threat came just as Russian and U.S. envoys were preparing for another round of informal discussions over possible peace terms in Ukraine.
Mounting threats
Speaking to journalists, Putin claimed that if Europe “starts a war with Russia,” the consequences would be devastating for European states themselves.
He framed the comments as a response to what he described as aggressive declarations from EU capitals.
The remarks landed hours before Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev was due to meet U.S. special representative Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
The pair have held several meetings in both countries, discussing draft peace ideas and potential economic cooperation involving the United States and Russia.
Asset dispute intensifies
Putin’s comments also follow warnings issued last week in Bishkek, where he said the EU’s proposal to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to finance a €140 billion reparations loan for Ukraine would trigger retaliation.
“The government of the Russian Federation, at my direction, is developing a package of reciprocal measures in case this happens,” he told reporters.
He argued that any such move amounted to “theft of someone else’s property” and would undermine the EU’s global standing.
“It is clear that this will have a negative impact on the international financial system,” he said. “Confidence in the eurozone will fall, it will fall sharply.”
Sources: Russian media reports, Digi24
