Why Did Putin Say Russia Is Ready for War With Europe?

Vladimir Putin told reporters in Moscow on the evening of 29 October that Russia is ready for a war with Europe and wants none. He spoke after the third Russia-Africa summit closed and said that Finland’s Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre were right to phone him two days earlier, a call that Denmark’s prime minister had criticised. Then he asked the Baltic states a question about Hormuz.

The Kremlin’s transcript of his prepared remarks covers trade, grain and the summit’s action plan to 2029. The Europe lines came in his answers to reporters, as translated by the wire services present, and the quotations below are from that translated reporting.

Putin said Russia supports restoring full relations with European countries and that a war would leave no winners. He asked, “Does someone want the same situation in the Baltic as in the Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz?” and said, “We will respond to any challenge.” He said Stubb and Støre were right to call. Frederiksen had said on 27 October that the call should not have been made alone.

Stubb and Støre phoned Putin on 27 October, as Why Did Finland and Norway Call Putin About Ukraine? reported. Stubb said afterwards, “Ending the war requires direct discussions.” Støre said, “In the call we stressed the importance of de-escalation.” Both said they spoke for their own countries and not for Europe. Stubb and Støre described the call as a continuation of their 20 October meeting in Oslo. Zelensky said they had told Putin that concrete steps were needed on Ukraine’s energy system.

The Kremlin’s readout said Putin told them a lasting peace was possible only with “full and unconditional” consideration of Russia’s interests.

Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s prime minister, told the broadcaster DR the same day: “This is an initiative by Norway and Finland on their own. It has not been coordinated with any of us.” She added, “I think we need to keep Europe united, rather than acting alone.” Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said he doubted the call brought peace in Ukraine any closer. Støre answered that he had not spoken on behalf of all Europeans.

On 29 October Putin said the two leaders were right to call despite criticism from some European capitals, and that Russia supports steps to restore full relations with European countries. He said Russia is ready for war but does not want one with Europe, and that a conflict would leave no winners. He said Russia wants no obstacles to navigation in the Baltic. Restricting it, he said, could produce a situation like Hormuz. Then he asked his question and gave his answer: “We will respond to any challenge.”

Frederiksen said on 27 October that the call was not coordinated. Putin said on 29 October that the callers were right.

The Kremlin said the call took place at the request of the Finnish and Norwegian sides. Helsinki and Oslo said it was held in consultation with Ukraine. Putin’s praise two days later fits that Kremlin account, in which Moscow was the party approached.

In his answer on 29 October the offer and the warning sit in consecutive sentences. First he said Russia supports restoring full relations. Then he asked about Hormuz. The Kremlin’s readout of the 27 October call had set the price of peace at “full and unconditional” weight for Russia’s interests, and on 29 October the price of an open Baltic was named in the same answer.

The wider diplomacy is in Will Putin and Zelensky Meet? What Trump and Moscow Said, where Ushakov and Peskov set out Moscow’s terms.

Three markers will show whether the warning was rhetoric or policy. One is whether any Baltic coastal state detains or inspects a Russian tanker in the coming weeks, and what Moscow says in reply. Another is whether Frederiksen, Kristersson or the EU back a second call to Putin or keep the distance Frederiksen asked for. The third is the date of the next Abu Dhabi round on Ukraine, for which the Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said no date is set. Kremlin officials had earlier pointed to the first half of November.

Putin’s wording proposes a trade: normal relations with Europe in return for an open Baltic. A tanker inspection would test it. More statements by Putin are gathered on the Vladimir Putin topic page and the Finnish side under Finland.