Europe-Russia war? Putin says Moscow is 'ready' - what triggered shock remark

His remarks came ahead of a crucial meeting in Moscow with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are holding high-level talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year-old war.

“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” Putin told reporters in Moscow, according to news agency AFP.

“They have no peaceful agenda, they are on the side of war,” he said, reiterating his claim that European governments were obstructing Washington’s attempts to secure a settlement.