Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the media after addressing participants of the VTB Investment Forum in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit - Sergei Ilnitsky—Getty Images
Russian PresidentVladimir Putinissued a stark warning to Europe on Tuesday, declaring that Russia is "ready" for a military confrontation if one were to break out.
Speaking at an investment forum in Moscow, Putin said he has no desire for conflict but cautioned that "if Europe suddenly wants to wage a war with us and starts it, we are ready right away."
He added that any European move toward war could lead to "a situation in which there won't be anyone to negotiate with."
The Russian leader also took aim atUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's European allies, who have expressed support for helping Kyiv achieve a dignified peace deal. Accusing Europe of hindering the U.S.-led negotiations, Putin claimed they had put forward demands that are "absolutely unacceptable" to Russia and had obstructed the "entire peace process." He argued that European governments have "no peaceful agenda."
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Putin made his remarks as a U.S. delegation led by President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff waited for him in another part of Moscow to discuss details of aRussia-Ukraine peace plan. Putin, known for keeping foreign leaders waiting, arrived late in the evening for the meeting, which also included Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. After a brief exchange of greetings, cameras were removed from the room and the closed-door talks began.
The meeting concluded nearly five hours later. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the talks "productive" in aposton X, and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that "the discussion was very useful, constructive and very substantive." But Ushakov stressed that "there is still a lot of work to be done, both by Washington and by Moscow," and noted that "so far, a compromise hasn't been found" on the critical issue of territory.
"Contacts will continue," he said.
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The meeting follows the widespread leak of theTrump Administration's 28-point peace planon Nov. 20. Zelensky and his European allies criticized the initial draft, which called for Kyiv to reduce its army and make significant land concessions.
Read More:Putin and Trump Envoy Witkoff Meet for High-Stakes Peace Talks
Ukrainian and U.S. officials met last week in Geneva to review a refined version of the proposal—the details of which have yet to be released. These talks were bolstered by a meeting in Florida over the weekend, which saw U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio lead talks opposite Ukraine's new negotiator Rustem Umerov, who serves as the country's National Security and Defense Council secretary. (Umerov took over the helm from Andriy Yermak, who resigned as Zelensky's chief of staff last week after a raid on his home by two national anti-corruption agencies amid a widespread corruption scandal.)
Rubio told reporters after the meeting that while the sit-down was "productive," there was still "more work to be done." "Obviously, there's another party involved [Russia] that will have to be a part of the equation," he added, having previously said that both Russia and Ukraine "must agree to difficult but necessary concessions."
European allies are strongly opposed to the idea of Ukraine making land concessions—something Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out. Many have warned that asking Ukraine to give up territory would reward Russian aggression, noting that Moscowinvaded Ukraine in 2022.
"We shouldn't lose focus that it's actually Russia who has started this war, and Russia that is continuing this war," Kaja Kallas, the E.U. high representative for foreign affairs and security policy,told reporters on Monday. Kallas shared her fear that Ukraine could be pressured to stop the war by surrendering, something she warns would have major repercussions and is "not in anybody's interest."
Putin's comments on Tuesday echoed his recent statements about the futility of a negotiated peace. During a trip to Kyrgyzstan last week, Putinsaidpursuing any kind of peace deal was "pointless" as long as Zelensky remained in power. Celebrating Russia's recent advances on the battlefield, Putin asserted that "if Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold then we will stop combat operations" but "if they don't, then we will achieve it by military means."
Putin's willingness to keep fighting despite mounting casualties, and his insistence that Ukraine withdraw from territory claimed by Moscow stands in direct opposition to Zelensky's vow never to cede land, leaving the sides locked in a stalemate.
There is little sign Putin is prepared to compromise. Trump previously said the Russian leader has "let [him] down" by refusing to change his position. The pair met in Alaska in August for a summit intended to explore a potential cease-fire. But the meeting ended earlier than planned, with no agreement reached. Critics argued thatPutin leftthe meeting with more leverage than Trump.
In October,Trump and the E.U. imposed new sanctions on Russia, demanding that "now is the time to stop killing." But the sanctions have done little to slow the Kremlin's campaign. In fact, the Kremlin all but dismissed the new levies, with Russia's Foreign Ministry spokespersonMaria Zakharova arguingthat Russia has a "strong immunity" to Western sanctions.
Zelensky remains supported by his European allies, but the issue of proposed land concessions and concerns over security guarantees for the future of both Ukraine and Europe remain unresolved.
For now, the Ukrainian President has said he is "waiting for signals from the American delegation after its meetings in Russia."
In anupdate shared via social media, as the talks in Moscow took place, Zelensky said the U.S. delegation is set to brief him "immediately" after the meetings end and the "next steps will depend on those signals."
"If the signals work out in a certain way—if it is fair play with our partners—then we may meet with the American delegation very quickly. At what level, we will see," he said, adding he is ready for a meeting with Trump, when the time comes.
Write toOlivia-Anne Cleary atolivia-anne.cleary@time.com.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the media after addressing participants of the VTB Investment Forum in Moscow o...
