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

Russian President Vladimir Putin said connected Tuesday that Moscow was acceptable if Europe initiated a conflict, adjacent arsenic helium accused European governments of trying to derail efforts to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine. “We are not readying to spell to warfare with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are acceptable close now,” helium said earlier gathering US peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, arsenic per quality bureau AFP.The talks successful Moscow are portion of Washington’s effort to propulsion guardant a draught bid program aimed astatine ending astir 4 years of fighting. Witkoff was carrying a revised connection aft European governments and Ukraine objected to earlier presumption that would manus territory to Russia and spot limits connected Kyiv’s military.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the treatment would proceed “as agelong arsenic needed” and impact lone Witkoff, Kushner and a US interpreter.Putin repeated his accusation that Ukraine’s European allies were obstructing US-led diplomacy by adding “demands that are perfectly unacceptable to Russia”, insisting “they don’t person a bid agenda, they’re connected the broadside of the war,” according to quality bureau AP. He besides claimed that Russian forces had taken power of Pokrovsk and invited overseas reporters to visit, though Ukraine rejected the claim, calling his remarks “a propaganda stunt” and saying warring was inactive ongoing.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was successful Ireland rallying European support. He said the US was taking “serious steps to extremity the warfare successful 1 mode oregon another” and stressed that immoderate statement indispensable present a “decent peace” alternatively than a impermanent pause. Ireland announced €125 cardinal successful further assistance during his visit, including non-lethal subject enactment and backing for Ukraine’s vigor sector.The diplomacy comes astatine a tense moment. Russian attacks person intensified, and Kyiv has been shaken by corruption scandals that led to the resignation of its apical negotiator. A Ukrainian delegation whitethorn conscionable Witkoff and Kushner arsenic aboriginal arsenic Wednesday, perchance successful Brussels, according to AFP. Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte said helium remained “confident” that US efforts would yet assistance reconstruct bid successful Europe.