Russian politician states war between Putin and Europe ‘very likely’ in worrying statement
The claims follow the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
A Russian politician has claimed that war between Europe and Vladimir Putin is 'very likely'.
With the eyes of the world currently focused on the joint US-Israeli war against Iran, you may be forgiven for forgetting there is a war currently ongoing in Europe.
The fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine passed last month, with Putin's forces having seized 12 percent of the country and racked up 1.2 million casualties after four years of war, according to CSIS.
With the conflict now rumbling into its fifth year, not only does a ceasefire not appear to be in sight but there could also be wider conflict between Russia and the West, according to hardline politician Alexei Zhuravlev.
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"I think it's very likely," he said in a recent interview with Russian-language outlet News.ru.
The 63-year-old went on to claim that European nations defence policies were 'creating provocations'.
"The Europeans need Ukraine precisely to tie down our forces and simultaneously arm themselves. They don't have a production base yet, but they will in five years. The Germans are building quickly and quite successfully.
"For the first time since World War II, they have a base in the Baltics - something they hadn't had before."
It's understood that Zhuravlev is referring to the deployment of a permanent brigade in Lithuania, a NATO member which borders Russia to the east.
He also claimed that Europe was 'currently blockading Kaliningrad', a Russian exclave which houses Russia's Baltic Fleet, adding: "The more we give in, the more pressure they'll continue to exert."
The comments follow reports that Germany is actively bolstering its military preparedness, including having all 18-year-old men undergo military testing and telling schools to instruct children on how to prepare for war.
Meanwhile NATO's Mark Rutte previously told members to start rapidly arming themselves, lest they want to learn Russian, and the EU has issued warnings about creating a '72-hour survival kit'.
Claiming European leaders 'don't understand history' he added: "That's the danger: they're not afraid to attack Russia and openly say they're preparing for war."
His claims are the latest in the long line of mixed messages from Russian officials, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov previously claiming they had no intention of attacking EU or NATO member states. "Russia has never had and does not have such intentions, but any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response," he said (via BBC).
As for Russia's current relations with ally Iran, it was claimed yesterday that while Putin hadn't come to the support of Iran his office has confirmed that he has been in contact with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, per BBC. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also confirmed that Russia was still in contact with Iranian leadership, prompting US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to tell CBS that well aware of who's talking to who'.
Brenna Cooper