Putin: Russia does not want war with Europe, but is ready to fight immediately

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia does not want a war with European powers, but if Europe decides on an armed conflict, Moscow is ready to "fight immediately", he said.

He added that some European countries are putting forward conditions in proposals for a peace deal with Ukraine that Russia considers "absolutely unacceptable."

Putin also announced that Russia will take measures against tanker states that help Ukraine. He described recent attacks on vessels off the Turkish coast as piracy and announced an intensification of strikes on Ukrainian facilities and ships.

On Tuesday, a drone attacked a Russian tanker loaded with sunflower oil, but the crew escaped unharmed, according to Turkish authorities. Ukraine says it had nothing to do with the incident.

Putin is also preparing for a two-day visit to India starting on Thursday. He wants to talk to Indian officials about Russian oil supplies, weapons and military equipment and about restoring cooperation undermined by sanctions and US pressure.

(reuters, lud)