Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Tuesday that Russia did not seek war with Europe. He stressed that Russia would fight if European powers pursued a direct confrontation with Moscow. He accused several European governments of obstructing efforts by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine. He said they advanced proposals they knew Moscow would never accept. He argued that these governments then blamed Russia for rejecting peace.
Putin stated that European powers had isolated themselves from meaningful diplomatic channels. He said their decision to cut contacts with Russia removed them from any peace discussions on Ukraine. He argued that their actions demonstrated open support for war. He accused them of escalating tensions instead of promoting dialogue. He maintained that Russia remained open to talks but would not accept imposed terms. He insisted that Europe must reconsider its approach if it wanted progress.
Threat to Restrict Ukraine’s Access to the Sea
Putin issued a strong warning regarding Ukraine’s recent attacks in the Black Sea. He claimed Ukrainian naval drones had targeted tankers linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” He said these drones threatened regional stability and commercial routes. He remarked that Russia could adopt harsher measures if such attacks continued.
He stated that Russia might cut Ukraine off from the sea. He said such an action would end what he described as maritime piracy. He noted that Russia would intensify strikes on Ukrainian targets. He said Russian forces would also act against tankers of any country that assisted Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia viewed the attacks as direct aggression.
On Saturday, a Ukrainian security official said Ukrainian drones struck two sanctioned Russian-bound tankers. The drones hit them as they traveled to load oil for foreign markets. Ukrainian authorities framed the operation as a strategic effort to disrupt Russian revenue.
