Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday issued a stern warning to European countries that Moscow is ready for war if Europe starts a conflict with Russia.
He also stressed that if Europe decides to go to war, Russia will act immediately without any hesitation.
The statement was made as a US delegation led by US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were in Moscow for peace talks to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine.
Putin also accused European leaders of derailing US peace talks by setting unreasonable conditions, simply to blame Russia.
The accusations were seen as Russia’s attempt to divide the Western alliance, while denying responsibility for the diplomatic deadlock.
At the same time, Putin stressed that Russia does not want open conflict, but will not back down if threatened.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his readiness to meet Trump again, in addition to waiting for a response from the US delegation after their meeting with Putin in the Kremlin.
The talks come as tensions on the battlefield have escalated, including claims that Russian troops have captured the strategic town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
