James Lynch writes for National Review Online about the latest disturbing comments from Russia’s tyrant-for-life.
Vladimir Putin is blaming his European counterparts for sabotaging peace talks to end the war in Ukraine that he started almost four years ago — and even raised the possibility of expanding the conflict to take on the European powers.
Ahead of a meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Putin lambasted Europe for “putting forward demands that are absolutely unacceptable for Russia.”
“They themselves refused peace negotiations and are interfering with President Trump,” Putin added.
Putin also suggested that Russia would be prepared to fight Europe in a broader war if the conflict in Ukraine escalates. He made those comments after stating it is not Russia’s goal to start a war against Europe.
“We’re not going to war with Europe – I’ve said this a hundred times already – but if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts the war, we’re ready right now,” Putin told reporters in response to a question about NATO troop preparations and the possibility of wider war with Europe,” Putin asserted.
Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are speaking with Putin in Moscow to advance peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes after a leaked phone call between Witkoff and Putin’s top foreign policy adviser drew widespread outrage because Witkoff appeared to be giving advice on how to make inroads with President Trump.
Witkoff and Kushner were both key negotiators in the peace agreement the Trump administration brokered between Israel and Hamas in October to end the war in Gaza. Both men were participants in negotiations with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev that resulted in a proposed 28-point peace agreement featuring terms largely favorable to Russia.
European leaders and Ukraine quickly rejected the 28-point plan on the grounds that it conceded too much Ukrainian territory, which could be used as a staging area for further incursions once Russia rebuilds its military capacity.
