Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to Europe, questioning its military preparedness and raising doubts about whether the United States would risk a strategic nuclear exchange to defend
the continent in the event of a confrontation with Russia.
Speaking in remarks that underscored Moscow’s long-running criticism of Europe’s security dependence, Putin said that any escalation would expose what he described as Europe’s fundamental vulnerability.
“If, God forbid, it comes to any blows, then everyone should understand that Russia has an SPRM (Space Reconnaissance Network) system, an early warning system for missile attacks,” Putin said.
“The USA has it. There is no other developed system in the world. We have it. There are no developed systems in Europe. In this sense, they are more or less defenceless,” the Russian President said.
Putin also drew attention to Russia’s nuclear capabilities, stressing both their power and scale.
“Our tactical nuclear weapons are three to four times more powerful than the bombs used by the Americans against Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” he said, repeating that they are “three to four times” stronger.
He added that Russia possesses far more such weapons deployed on the European continent and insisted that even if Washington were to bring additional weapons from the United States, “we still have many more.”
While emphasising that he did not want such a scenario, Putin warned of the consequences if tensions were to spiral out of control.
“If it comes to that, God forbid, which I really do not want, we will reduce the number of casualties, but they can increase indefinitely,” he said.
Putin then questioned whether Washington would ultimately put itself at risk for Europe.
“If those with whom we will exchange such strikes do not exist, will the Americans engage in this exchange of strikes at the level of strategic weapons or not? I doubt it very much,” he said.
“And the Europeans must also think about it. This is certain,” he added.
Putin’s remarks come as European leaders and US envoys are attempting to present a united front on Ukraine, even as broader geopolitical tensions complicate transatlantic relations.
According to AFP, European leaders and US representatives agreed on key security guarantees for Kyiv during talks in Paris, as they sought to shore up support for Ukraine nearly four years after Russia’s invasion.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner represented Washington in the discussions, AFP reported, while representatives from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, along with officials from Italy and Turkey, were involved in further talks.
Ukraine’s Western allies have agreed on security guarantees that include a US-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force to be deployed after a ceasefire, AFP said.
However, there has been no let-up in fighting, and Moscow’s negotiating position remains unclear.
Putin has repeatedly said he does not want NATO troops deployed on the ground in Ukraine.
At the same time, Europe is navigating a delicate relationship with Washington on other fronts.
AFP reported that European leaders have given a cautious response to President Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela, avoiding direct condemnation as they seek to keep the United States engaged on Ukraine.
“We have our problems elsewhere, and like it or not, realistically we need the US involvement,” one EU diplomat told AFP, adding that defending Venezuela’s toppled leadership was “not in our collective interest.”
Concerns have also mounted over Trump’s renewed statements about taking control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, further highlighting Europe’s strategic dependence on the United States.
“No US, no security guarantees,” one EU official told AFP, summarising Europe’s predicament.
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