Putin warns Europe he is ‘ready for war’ and vows ‘there will be no winners at all’ as he hints at new flashpoint

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is prepared for war with Europe, while maintaining that Moscow does not want such a conflict. Speaking at a Russia–Africa summit in Moscow, Putin warned European countries against confrontation and claimed that Western efforts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia had failed.

“We are ready for war with Europe, but we don’t want it,” he said. “As for them, if anyone desires such a thing, let them prepare.” Putin argued that the West was unlikely to achieve its objectives against Russia by 2030 and warned about the consequences of further escalation. “If things go too far, there will be no winners at all,” he said.

He also said Moscow did not want the Baltic Sea to experience a situation similar to that in the Strait of Hormuz. The comparison referred to disruption around the strategic waterway during the Iran war, which the report linked to fuel shortages and rising prices. His remarks came amid concerns about alleged Russian hybrid operations against NATO countries, including suspected sabotage, surveillance and airspace incursions.

According to the report, Germany raised its assessment of the risk of war with Russia to its second-highest level earlier this month. The report also referred to suspicions of Russian involvement in fires targeting a house and car linked to former British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. It did not establish Putin’s personal involvement.

Russia has separately been accused of using fishing vessels to gather intelligence about British undersea cables. The report cited incidents involving Russian drones and military aircraft in Latvian and Estonian airspace. It also said French fighter jets operating under NATO scrambled in response to a drone that entered Latvian airspace.

The warnings coincided with further attacks in Ukraine. According to the report, a Russian strike on a railway station left 14 people dead, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for action from the United States and Europe. Zelensky described the attack as “horrific”.

The railway strike followed a Ukrainian attack on Moscow while Russia was hosting the summit. Delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state, reportedly attended the gathering, which provided Putin with an opportunity to demonstrate Russia’s continuing international partnerships despite the war in Ukraine.

Photographs from the summit also attracted attention online, including images of Putin standing beside Mozambique’s president, Daniel Chapo, who is reported to be 6ft 8in tall. The report alleged that the Kremlin sought to limit the circulation of those photographs, but did not provide evidence establishing that claim.