Putin says Russia is ready for war with Europe
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready for a war with Europe, while insisting it did not want one, at a press conference at the Russia-Africa summit on 29 October. He was responding to European officials discussing a possible confrontation by 2030, La Nouvelle Tribune reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday 29 October that Russia was ready for a war with Europe, while stressing that it did not want one. He was responding to European officials who have spoken of the possibility of a confrontation with Moscow by 2030, at a press conference on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit.
Putin said it was unlikely that the Europeans would manage to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia by 2030. “If there is a confrontation, there will be no winners anyway,” he said, adding that some European officials wanted to resume dialogue.
The European Commission presented a roadmap in October 2025 for defence preparedness by 2030, which describes Russia as a threat to the continent’s security. Contracts and funding linked to this timetable must be agreed by the end of 2028. The ReArm Europe plan provides for up to 800 billion euros for defence, including 150 billion euros for arms purchases.
Military spending by the 27 European Union member states has risen by more than 31% since 2021, reaching 326 billion euros in 2024. Putin’s remarks came at the Russia-Africa summit, where he also defended a partnership with Africa based on autonomy.
