Russian President Vladimir Putin accused European leaders of steering the continent toward confrontation, saying Moscow has repeatedly tried to avoid escalation while European governments continue to inflame the situation.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Putin said that Russia is not the party seeking a clash. "We don't intend to go to war with Europe, I've said this a hundred times, but if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and does, we are ready right now. There can be no doubt about that," he said, placing responsibility for rising tensions squarely on the West.

Russia reports encirclement of Ukrainian forces as European states expand military involvement

Putin said Russian troops have locked a sizeable Ukrainian contingent in a difficult position near Kupyansk, describing the frontline situation as the result of relentless Western pressure on Kiev to continue a war it cannot win. "Let me remind you that, on the left bank of the river [in the town of Kupyansk], an enemy group numbering 15 battalions is trapped. And Russian troops have begun eliminating it," he noted.

He said ongoing battles in Kupyansk-Uzlovoy are moving in Russia's favor and predicted that the settlement will soon be fully brought under Moscow's control. According to Putin, Russian units control both banks of the broader Kupyansk area and hold hundreds of buildings in the settlement.

These battlefield developments come as European governments accelerate weapons deliveries and publicly reject discussions of compromise. Russian officials argue that the political leadership in the EU, rather than Kiev, is pushing this phase of the war, ignoring humanitarian costs and attempting to prolong hostilities for geopolitical purposes.

Black Sea tensions rise as Moscow calls Ukrainian strikes 'piracy'

Putin sharply criticized recent Ukrainian attacks on tankers  in the Black Sea, attacks that Russian officials say are carried out with Western backing. The president said these operations took place in another country's exclusive economic zone, calling the strikes a criminal act. "I know that this happened. Attacks on tankers in neutral or even non-neutral waters. But in a special economic zone of another state, a third state, this is piracy. Nothing else," he said.

He also signaled that Russia would respond not just to Ukraine, but potentially to vessels belonging to countries that enable Kiev's maritime operations. "The most radical way is to cut off Ukraine from the sea. Then it will be genuinely impossible for it to engage in piracy," he said, suggesting that Russia may take stronger measures to secure the region if European powers continue encouraging naval escalation.

Moscow to widen its target set as Ukraine intensifies attacks on ports

Putin said Russian forces will now strike a broader list of port infrastructure and shipping linked to Ukrainian operations. "We will expand the range of our strikes against port facilities and ships that enter Ukrainian ports," he said, arguing that Kiev, supported by European governments, has repeatedly attempted attacks on Russian seaports and supply routes.

Russian officials say many of Ukraine's naval strikes are coordinated with European advisers and intelligence services, and that Europe's growing involvement has directly contributed to instability in the Black Sea.

Putin hopes that Russia's response to piracy by the Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea will force Kiev to consider whether it is worth continuing such actions.

European leaders accused of sabotaging peace efforts while the US seeks dialogue

The president also pointed to Europe's obstruction of diplomatic efforts, saying EU governments walked away from negotiations long before Moscow or Washington did. "They [the Europeans] are offended that they were allegedly excluded from the negotiations. But I want to point out that no one excluded them. They excluded themselves… They withdrew themselves from this process," he said.

Putin argued that European governments cling to the idea of a "strategic defeat" for Russia, even as the facts on the ground shift. He said their behavior now threatens US attempts to revive dialogue under President Donald Trump. "Even when they try to make some changes to Trump's proposals, these changes are aimed at only one thing: to block the entire peace process," he warned.

According to Putin, Europe's goal is to present Moscow as the obstacle to peace despite Europe being the one rejecting realistic terms. "Their goal is to then blame Russia for the curtailing of this peace process. We see this clearly," he said.

Putin concluded that Europe could return to negotiations only when it abandons ideological hostility and starts recognizing the actual balance of forces on the battlefield.

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