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“They have no peaceful agenda; they are on the side of war,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said, renewing his accusation that European governments are obstructing progress toward a peace agreement.
On Tuesday, Putin declared that Russia was “ready” for a military confrontation if Europe pursued one, alleging that European leaders were undermining US-led efforts to finalise a peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. His remarks came ahead of a key meeting in Moscow with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are engaged in high-level discussions to bring the nearly four-year conflict to a close.
“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts it, we are ready right now,” Putin told reporters in Moscow, according to news agency AFP.
He further accused European governments of blocking Washington’s attempts to negotiate a settlement, claiming their actions demonstrated an absence of any sincere desire for peace.
Putin criticises amendments to US peace draft
Putin also condemned European-proposed changes to the latest peace framework introduced by former US President Donald Trump, arguing that the revisions were intended to “completely derail the peace process” and impose conditions that Moscow finds unacceptable.
Washington had initially put forward a 28-point draft plan to end the conflict, which was later revised following objections from Kyiv and several European capitals. Critics in Europe argued the original proposal was overly favourable to Moscow, particularly regarding territorial concessions.
European leaders have repeatedly insisted that no “unfair peace” should be forced upon Ukraine and that Kyiv must not be compelled into accepting terms that strengthen Russia’s position.
