Putin says Russia ready to restore ties with European neighbours
Vladimir Putin told a military-industrial commission meeting that Russia is prepared to cooperate and re-establish relations with European countries.
At a closed meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission, President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia is willing to work with its European neighbours and restore strained relations. He rejected claims that Moscow seeks to threaten Europe, accusing some European leaders of exploiting the Ukraine war to justify costly policies. Putin highlighted routine exercises in the Baltic Sea, noting that they involved rehearsing the seizure of civilian ships, and questioned whether such actions are normal under international law.
He also pointed to Western concerns over the Straits of Ormuz and Bab el-Mandeb while suggesting that Europe’s hostility could compel a Russian response. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov had previously said that European ties with Russia have been reduced to near zero. Putin framed NATO’s expansion as a factor heightening tensions and portrayed the Ukrainian regime as a dictatorial obstacle to peace.
Why it matters
The statement signals Russia's diplomatic posture toward Europe amid ongoing Ukraine war and NATO tensions.
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