Valdai talks Putin vows to quickly fight back against EU's 'escalating' armament

Vladimir Putin has vowed to quickly retaliate against Europe’s “growing militarisation”, while dismissing as “nonsense” western fears that Moscow planned to attack Nato.

- Pjotr Sauer

“We are closely monitoring the escalating militarisation of Europe. We simply cannot ignore what is happening. We have no right to do so for reasons of our own security,” Putin said during a speech in Sochi yesterday. He added: “I think no one doubts that Russia’s countermeasures will not be long in coming,” he added. He was speaking at the Valdai plenary session, an annual gathering of officials and foreign policy experts where Putin often sets out his views on global affairs.

His remarks came as 45 European leaders gathered in Copenhagen for a summit aimed at bolstering support for Kyiv and accelerating defence projects intended to ensure the continent is capable of deterring Russian aggression. The meeting followed turbulent weeks in which several European countries reported Russian drone and jet incursions, raising fears that Moscow was probing Nato’s resolve.

While threatening Europe, Putin struck a conciliatory note towards Donald Trump, despite the US president’s recent disparaging remarks about him. In what appeared to be an attempt to win back favour, Putin lavished praise on the US leader, claiming that "if Trump had been in power, the conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided" - a line the president has often used himself.