Putin says Russia is ready for war with Europe but does not want conflict
Vladimir Putin said Moscow is ready for war with Europe but does not want a conflict, warning that a large-scale war would have no winners. His remarks came after intelligence agencies reported that Russia continues to consider direct conflict with Europe as a possible scenario, including through 2045.
Key points
- Putin said Russia is ready for war with Europe but does not want conflict.
- He warned that a large-scale Russian-European war would have no winners.
- Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service said on October 13 that Russia had not abandoned the possibility of direct war with Europe.
- Six possible conflict scenarios reportedly focus on Northern Europe, with plans also being developed for Poland and the Baltic states.
- Denmark’s military intelligence said on September 24 that the risk of a limited Russian attack on NATO neighbors was small but growing.
- Czech, Latvian, and Swedish intelligence chiefs warned that Russia could intensify diversionary activity in Europe.
- Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate said on October 2 that Russian agencies were preparing hybrid operations in EU and NATO territory.
Why it matters
Putin’s warning contrasts with intelligence assessments indicating that Russia continues to prepare for possible direct conflict with Europe. Those assessments point to a growing but still limited risk of military aggression, alongside increased diversionary and hybrid activity in the short term. The warning of “no winners” underscores the potential scale of such a conflict, while the same day’s Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least 19 people.
What happened
On October 29, following the Russia–Africa summit in Moscow, Putin said Russia was ready for war with Europe despite not wanting a conflict. He also claimed that many Europeans were discussing preparations for war with Russia by 2030. The remarks came as Ukrainian and European intelligence agencies reported continued preparations for possible confrontation. Ukrainian foreign intelligence said six direct-war scenarios focused on Northern Europe, while plans were also under consideration for Poland and the Baltic states. Separate assessments warned of a growing risk of limited military action and possible diversionary operations in Europe. On the same day, Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least 19 people, including at least 14 when a drone hit a platform at Dnipro’s main railway station as a suburban train prepared to depart.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presented Putin’s remarks alongside Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia continues to treat direct war with Europe as a possible scenario. Particular attention was paid to Northern Europe, Poland, the Baltic states, and hybrid operations intended to undermine support for Ukraine. Ukrainian reports also emphasized that Russian strikes killed at least 19 people in Ukraine on October 29.
Background
Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service said on October 13 that Russia had not ruled out direct war with Europe and was considering it among scenarios extending to 2045. Six such scenarios reportedly concern Northern Europe, with additional plans for Poland and the Baltic states. Danish military intelligence assessed that the immediate risk of a limited attack against one or more neighboring NATO states was small but growing. Czech, Latvian, and Swedish intelligence chiefs also warned about possible diversionary activity, while Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate reported preparations for hybrid operations in EU and NATO territory aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and weakening the alliance.