Britain calls Putin's threat of war on Europe 'claptrap'

Russian president says he is ready for war 'if they want it'

- MAIRA BUTT

The UK and its Nato allies have hit back over Vladimir Putin's threat that Russia is “ready for war” with Europe.

Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said Putin’s comments were “Kremlin claptrap”, while Nato secretary general Mark Rutte insisted the alliance was “willing to do what it takes”.

The ramping up of rhetoric came as hopes for a US-brokered peace deal in Ukraine faded. A planned meeting yesterday between the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and a US delegation was cancelled hours after Donald Trump’s team appeared to leave Moscow empty-handed.

Nevertheless, Mr Rutte insisted President Trump was “the only person in the whole world able to break the deadlock” over the Ukraine war.

“Nato is a defensive alliance,” Mr Rutte said, ahead of a summit of Nato leaders in Brussels. “But make no mistake, we are ready and willing to do what it takes to protect our one billion people and secure our territory. Putin believes he can outlast us, but we are not going anywhere.”