Putin says Russia does not want war with Europe but warns there would be ‘no winners’ if tensions go too far

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow did not want a war with Europe but was prepared for one if European countries continued preparing for a potential conflict, warning that an escalation could leave “no winners at all.”

“Many are talking about preparing for war by 2030. First of all, we are ready, but we do not want any war with Europe,” Putin said Thursday in Moscow during the third Russia-Africa Summit. “If they want to prepare, let them prepare.”

“If things go too far, there will be no winners at all. Let no one forget that,” he added.

Putin also warned against turning the Baltic Sea into another heavily contested maritime zone, asking whether anyone wanted it to become “like the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz.” “We don’t want that,” he said.

At the same time, Putin said Russia supported steps toward restoring relations with European countries, either collectively through the European Union or bilaterally. “Whatever they prefer,” he said.

Much of Putin’s address focused on expanding Russia’s ties with Africa. He said Moscow had never viewed African countries as objects of geopolitical competition and portrayed Russia as an anti-colonial partner that had supported African independence movements. Russia has been seeking to deepen its political, commercial and security presence on the continent as Western governments compete for influence there.

Putin backed permanent African representation on the U.N. Security Council, saying he was “absolutely convinced” the continent should have a permanent seat and that Russia supported efforts toward that goal.

He said nearly 40,000 African citizens were now studying at Russian universities, a record, and announced that the Russian government’s scholarship quota for African students for the 2026-27 academic year had been increased by another 5,500 places.

Putin also described Russia, alongside the U.S. and China, as one of the few countries with what he called full sovereignty in digital technologies, saying Russian technology companies were increasingly competing abroad.

Recalling the First and Second World Wars, Putin said Russia was working to prevent another conflict on a global scale.