Speaking at the closing press conference of the Russia-Africa summit, Putin said many in Europe have spoken of the need to prepare for war with Russia by 2030. He said Europe had failed to achieve its goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and was unlikely to achieve it by 2030 either.
"First, we are ready, but we do not want any war with Europe," Putin said. "And if it goes too far, then there will be no winners at all. Let no one forget that," the Russian president said.
Putin also commented on a telephone call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. According to Putin, the call was initiated by the Europeans, who stressed at the start of the conversation that they did not represent the European Union.
Russia supports any steps toward restoring relations with Europe, "with everyone together" in the form of the EU or bilaterally, Putin said. He said Stubb was the one who raised the topic of security in the Baltic Sea. The Finnish president expressed hope that international maritime law would be observed, and Russia supports that approach, Putin said.
Putin added that Moscow does not want a repeat in the Baltic of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, but will "respond to any challenge."
The call took place on October 27. The Financial Times, citing three people familiar with its contents, reported that Putin devoted most of the conversation to the medieval history of the Slavs and that the possibility of an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine was barely discussed. Store denied this, saying Norway and Finland had asked the newspaper to correct its publication.