MOSCOW — 30 October 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not want a war with Europe but was prepared for one, warning that an escalation would leave “no winners at all”.
The remarks came late Thursday after the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where Putin also said Moscow supported renewed relations with European countries following a phone call this week with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
“First of all, we are prepared, but we want no war with Europe, If any of them want it, let them prepare.”
He said Western efforts to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia had failed and were unlikely to succeed by 2030.
“And if things go too far, there will be no winners at all,” Putin said. “Let nobody forget about it.”
Putin’s comments came as Russia’s war in Ukraine and strained relations between Moscow and European governments continue to shape regional security. He did not identify a specific European country or alliance as preparing for war.
Stubb and Støre spoke with Putin on Tuesday, 27 October, in a call initiated by the Finnish and Norwegian leaders, according to joint statements issued by the two governments.
The leaders said the call followed a meeting in Oslo on 20 October and was held in consultation with Ukraine. They said they raised Russia’s war against Ukraine, efforts to resume negotiations and the need to promote peace and stability in Europe.
Finland and Norway said their leaders participated as representatives of their own countries, not on behalf of the European Union or Europe as a whole. Both countries share borders with Russia and have been firm supporters of Ukraine.
Putin said Stubb and Støre had made clear at the start of the conversation that they were speaking for their respective countries, and not the EU.
“I know they have been criticised by some,” Putin said. “But this is not our business to assess whether it was right or wrong. I believe that was the right thing to do.”
He said Russia would welcome steps to restore “full-fledged and proper relations” with European countries, whether through the EU or bilaterally.
“As I have always said, we support any steps aimed at restoring full-fledged and proper relations with European countries — either with all of them in the form of the EU or on a bilateral basis,” Putin said. “Please, however they want it.”
The Finnish and Norwegian governments said their leaders stressed that Russia’s war must end and that negotiations should resume. Stubb described the exchange as “frank and substantive”, while Støre said the war’s human and material costs would affect generations.
Putin also addressed tensions in the Baltic Sea, saying Russia wanted navigation to remain unrestricted and warning Moscow would respond to what he described as any challenge. He suggested that restrictions on communications or shipping could create a situation resembling recent disruption around the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
The Europe-focused remarks followed a two-day summit designed to strengthen Russia’s political, trade and security links with African countries as Moscow seeks partners outside the West.
The gathering brought together delegations from 48 African countries, including about 22 heads of state, according to summit organisers and international media reports. It was the third Russia-Africa summit, following meetings in Sochi in 2019 and St Petersburg in 2023.
Putin presented Russia and African countries as partners in building what he called a more “multipolar” global order, while accusing Western states of retaining a colonial approach to the continent.
He said Russia-Africa trade had exceeded US$27 billion last year and highlighted Russian deliveries of grain, fertiliser and other agricultural products. Putin also backed greater African representation on the UN Security Council.
Russia has expanded diplomatic, economic and security engagement across Africa in recent years, even as its full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to sweeping Western sanctions and deepened its isolation from many European governments.