As the U.S. presidential envoy Witkowicz arrived in Moscow, Putin issued a severe warning at the "Russian Foreign Trade Bank Forum" meeting against the recent "preemptive" strikes by Europe against Russia.
"If Europe wants to go to war with Russia, Russia will lose a negotiation partner (meaning Europe will be gone). If Europe wants to go to war with Russia, then do it now! Russia is ready!"
Regarding Ukraine's attacks on several oil tankers of the so-called "Russian shadow fleet," Putin stated that Russia will expand the scope of attacks on ships entering Ukrainian ports and Ukrainian port facilities, and Russia is considering completely cutting off Ukraine's connection to the sea.
At his press conference on December 2nd, Putin made a series of hardline statements about Russian-Europe relations and the situation in Ukraine, whose core can be summarized as: declaring that Russia does not want to go to war with Europe, but if Europe provokes war, Russia is prepared to "fight now" and will achieve a quick victory, leading to Europe losing its right to negotiate.
Putin's intense remarks are not an isolated event, but rather a composite strategy of Russia under the current situation, which can be interpreted as:
Strategic Deterrence Through Offense: This is the most direct purpose. By depicting a "quick war" that Europe cannot withstand, it forms a psychological deterrent to European countries, aiming to prevent further escalation of military aid to Ukraine or direct intervention, thus consolidating Russia's favorable position on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Propaganda Tactics to Divide the US and EU: The statement specifically praised the peace efforts of the Trump administration, while sharply criticizing Europe for "obstructing peace." This narrative of "praising the US and denigrating Europe" aims to highlight potential differences between the US and Europe in their policies towards Russia and Ukraine, trying to weaken the unity of the Western alliance.
Serving Domestic Political Narratives: Against the backdrop of Russian forces announcing significant advances on the battlefield, this outward display of absolute toughness and confidence helps consolidate domestic support and shape an image of Russia as resilient and strong under pressure.
Strong Response to EU Sanctions: The EU is about to finalize a ban on Russian natural gas, which would hurt Russia's energy revenue. Putin's warning is also a strong political and military response to such substantive economic sanctions by the EU.
Putin's strong words have placed Europe in a difficult balance. On one hand, the perception of security threats may rise, potentially pushing up defense spending and coordination within NATO. On the other hand, fear of energy supply disruptions and conflict escalation might make some countries more cautious about sanctions and aid. The temperature difference in the EU's policy toward Russia may increase, leading to more divisions.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1850424451022848/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.