Reuters. President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday (December 2) that Russia did not want a war with European powers, but was ready to fight if Europe did want a direct conflict with Moscow.
The Kremlin chief accused European powers of hindering U.S. President Donald Trump's attempts to end the war in Ukraine by putting forward proposals they knew would be "absolutely unacceptable" to Moscow so they could then accuse Russia of not wanting peace.
Putin said European powers had locked themselves out of peace talks on Ukraine because they had cut off contacts with Russia.
"They are on the side of war," Putin said of European powers.
Putin called recent attacks on “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea near Turkey piracy adding that Russia would intensify strikes on Ukrainian facilities and vessels and would take measures against tankers of countries that help Ukraine.
Putin also threatened to sever Ukraine’s access to the sea in response to attacks on Russia's tankers.
“The most radical solution is to cut Ukraine off from the sea, then piracy will be impossible in principle,” Putin said ahead of meeting with Steve Witkoff.
A Russian-flagged tanker loaded with sunflower oil reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast on Tuesday, but its 13 crew members were unharmed, Turkey’s maritime authority and the Tribeca shipping agency said earlier.
