Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to journalists at the VTB Investment Forum “Russia Calling!” in Moscow on December 2, 2025. PHOTO: Kommersant Photo Agency / ddp USA / Profimedia
London says the Russian president is not “serious about peace” after failed talks in Moscow with advisers sent by Trump.
The British government on Wednesday dismissed Vladimir Putin's claim that Europe wants war with Russia, calling it “empty Kremlin talk,” Politico writes.
The Russian president on Tuesday accused Europe of being “on the side of war” and insisted Moscow was “ready right now” to fight a war with the European continent.
Ukraine's European allies “are upset that they were excluded from the negotiations, but they themselves have excluded themselves from the peace negotiations and at the same time they are putting obstacles in the way of President Trump. They do not have a peace agenda, they are on the side of war,” Putin said. “We don't want war with Europe, but if Europe wants it and starts it, then we are ready right now. There should be no doubt here,” the Russian president added. The Europeans “formulate demands that for Russia are absolutely unacceptable. They know this, and so they can accuse Russia of rejecting the peace process”, since their only goal is “to completely block the peace process”, Putin also claimed.
The Kremlin leader's statements came just hours before peace talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman branded Putin's claim as “yet another rhetoric” that is “as dangerous as it is wrong”. London also said that “European nations are united in supporting Ukraine's right to self-defense in accordance with international law” and that “NATO stands ready to respond to any threats with unity and force.”
NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss support for Kiev after talks between the US and Russia in Moscow failed to produce any results.
These are “another empty words from the Kremlin, from a president who does not take peace seriously,” added the British prime minister's spokesman.
Starmer was asked on Wednesday during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in Parliament in London whether Britain is ready for war.
“We all know that Putin is the aggressor in this situation,” the prime minister told the deputies. “We all know that Putin is stalling, he doesn't want to sit down at the negotiating table, he doesn't want to reach an agreement,” said Keir Starmer.
He said NATO member countries “must continue to exert pressure in all possible ways,” including “supporting Ukraine with capabilities and resources.”
The talks between Moscow and Washington on Tuesday evening were “extremely useful, constructive and informed”, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said after the meeting, although he added that the two sides had come “no closer to solving the crisis” in Ukraine.
