Putin: Russia ready for war with Europe after Finnish, Norwegian calls

Vladimir Putin declared on October 29 that Russia is prepared for a war with Europe, even as he described the recent diplomatic outreach from Helsinki and Oslo as a positive step. The Russian leader made these remarks in response to a phone conversation he had with two Northern European heads of state earlier in the week.

Putin stated that Moscow supports any measures aimed at restoring full relations with European nations, both collectively through the European Union and individually. He specifically referenced a call initiated by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. According to Putin, the conversation covered a wide range of issues and took place at the explicit request of the Finnish and Norwegian leaders.

The Kremlin leader noted that Stubb and Støre clarified at the start of the call that they were acting in their national capacities rather than representing the EU as a bloc. Putin said he believed their decision to reach out was correct, despite subsequent criticism they faced in their home countries. He observed that some European leaders prefer constructive dialogue over seeking a strategic defeat for Russia.

"I believe it was the right thing to do," Putin said regarding the outreach. He added that he had always supported steps toward full-fledged relations with European countries. The Russian leader emphasized that while Moscow is ready for potential conflict, it does not desire a war with its western neighbors.

The phone call occurred on Tuesday, October 27. Before speaking with Putin, Stubb and Støre held consultations with Ukraine. They also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the conversation with the Russian president. The initiative to contact Putin was driven by Stubb and Støre to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to secure peace and stability in the region.

Putin’s comments were released through Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies. He stressed that Russia’s readiness for war coexists with its preference for dialogue. The statement marks a direct response to the bilateral diplomatic effort undertaken by the two Nordic leaders in the final days of October.