Russia does not want a war with Europe but if Western nations keep attempting to “inflict a strategic defeat” on Moscow they may get one, President Vladimir Putin has threatened.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin made remarks about relations with European states and the broader West during his Russia-Africa summit in Moscow on Thursday, claiming to be a dove of peace while threatening a World War-like conflict if he isn’t left to pursue his strategic goals. Kremlin state media publisher TASS reported that President Putin recalled a century and more of European history in this warning, stating “the tragic pages of history” bring a warning against World Wars, and claiming Russia is attempting to prevent “anything like this happens on a global scale” again.
If any war were to come, Putin said, it would not be Russia’s fault. Nevertheless, the Russian Federation is ready to fight Europe and the West, he assured.
The problem for Putin is that “some” want to “inflict a strategic defeat on Russia”. He went on: “Many people are talking about preparing for war by 2030. Is this right or wrong? First of all, we are prepared, but we don’t want any war with Europe… as for them, if someone wants it, let them prepare. However, they failed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia this time and it is unlikely to become possible by 2030”.