Russian president Vladimir Putin has said that his country is prepared to go to war with Europe, after European leaders proposed changes to a US peace plan.
Critics, including several European leaders, have claimed that the plan was overly accommodating of Russia. It included halving the size of Ukraine’s army, granting Russia full control over Donetsk and Luhansk and permanently preventing Ukraine from joining NATO.
Putin made his remarks prior to meeting with President Donald Trumps envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
It has been reported that the latest version of the plan had sought to recognise Ukraine’s concerns, by removing some of the clauses (which include security guarantees, territorial adjustments and future NATO membership); the idea is to come up with an acceptable formulation after engagements between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy.
It is unlikely that significant changes to satisfy Ukraine and its European allies would be acceptable to Russia.
Talks between Putin and the American envoys would last “as long as it takes”, said a Russian government spokesman. Five hours of negotiation failed to produce a settlement.
“Peace is no closer, but also no further away,” he added.
[Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Putin_19-01-2021.jpg]