Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to European leaders, declaring that Moscow is prepared for war if Europe initiates hostilities — a striking escalation of rhetoric amid stalled peace efforts over Ukraine.
Speaking at a Moscow investment forum on 2 December, and hours before hosting US envoys in the Kremlin, Putin said Russia does not currently seek war with Europe — “I have said that a hundred times” — but added that “if Europe suddenly wants to wage a war with us, and starts it, we are ready right now.”
He insisted that demand for a lasting peace deal had been undermined by what he described as unacceptable European conditions and interference that sabotaged negotiations.
The warning came at a delicate moment: a five-hour meeting in Moscow between Putin and US special envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at reviving a US-brokered peace proposal for Ukraine. Kremlin says the talks were “productive,” yet ended without meaningful breakthrough on core issues — particularly territorial questions.
Putin accused European governments of rejecting the peace plan’s terms, portraying them as unwilling to recognize recent military gains on the ground and thus unwilling to accept “realities” Moscow believes should shape any agreement.
He dismissed European proposals as illusions of “strategic defeat” against Russia and accused them of being on the side of war, not peace.
As soon as the remarks were made public, European and NATO leaders reacted sharply. Officials in Kyiv and across EU capitals accused Moscow of feigning interest in peace while simultaneously escalating threats.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that NATO stands ready to defend itself, saying the alliance would do “whatever it takes” to protect Europe if Russia makes good on its threats.
Public sentiment in Europe already appears shaken: a new poll across nine EU states finds that just over half of respondents in Germany, France, the Netherlands and other countries believe there is a high or very high risk of a war with Russia.
Analysts say Putin’s warning signals a return to broad, existential rhetoric — not just focused on Ukraine, but on Europe as a whole. In effect, it puts European governments on notice that any support for Ukraine or perceived escalation could trigger a larger confrontation.
At the same time, the threat complicates any hope of a negotiated peace. The US-brokered peace deal proposal — which many European capitals already opposed — now appears even more unlikely to succeed with Moscow framing Europeans as provocateurs and casting doubt on their reliability as negotiating partners.
Header image: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (both not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025. Alexander Kazakov—Pool/AFP/Getty Images
