Shoigu Says Russia Won’t Attack Europe, Mocks Its Bid for Seat at Ukraine Talks

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu says Russia has no plans to attack Europe. He mocks Europe’s push to join Ukraine talks, likening it to going to “a wedding we were not invited to.”

He spoke at a press conference in Moscow on Monday, Nov. 2. It was held at the “Peoples of Russia” International Week, the Security Council said.

Clash Report posted the video. The quotes below follow the English voiceover on the full video. TASS’s English version differs in places.

What Shoigu Said About Europe

Shoigu says Russia is “not going to destroy this or that country.” He argues that many Western states, “as colonial powers, are falling apart on their own.”

In his telling, people they once “enslaved” are “waking up and rising up.” He adds: “All their politics is built on confrontation. They constantly need some kind of enemy.”

He says Putin has said three or four times in two months that Russia will not attack Europe. “Still they insist,” Shoigu says, that Russia wages a hybrid war.

His reply: “Listen, we have no time for you.” The line follows the RIA Novosti transcript.

He adds: “God forbid you live to see the day when Russia starts waging a hybrid war against you.”

His advice to Europe: “Live peacefully. Do not attack us. We are not going to attack anyone.”

On Europe’s Seat at the Table

Shoigu says the planned talks in Abu Dhabi will keep the same delegations: the U.S., Ukraine and Russia. Europe’s role “requires discussion and decision-making by all three sides,” Interfax reported.

He then tells a joke he attributes to Isaac Babel, Vesti reported. “Why and with whom would we go to a wedding we were not invited to?” he says.

“We have not even been invited yet,” Shoigu says, “but [they are] deciding who will go.” He mocks Europeans for debating what to bring and what to wear.

He also quotes the European line that “Ukraine is Europe, which means there is no way without Europe.” He adds that Russia’s trust in its Western colleagues is “at a very low level.”

Which Leaders Called Putin

Shoigu says “the presidents of two Scandinavian countries” called Putin at Ukraine’s request. He says Putin “explained everything to them clearly and plainly.”

The call took place on Oct. 27, the Kremlin readout shows. The participants were Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Norway is a kingdom with a prime minister, and Finland is Nordic rather than strictly Scandinavian. The Kremlin says the call was at their request. Oslo and Helsinki say it was held in consultation with Ukraine.

Both leaders stressed they did not speak for Europe, the BBC reported. See our report on the call.

Where the Talks Stand

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Europe would not take part in the next round, Al Jazeera reported. Stubb said European countries would be involved.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said trilateral talks would run Nov. 6 to 10 in the UAE. The Kremlin readout said early to mid-November. Shoigu said the second half of the month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Nov. 1 that Europe’s push to defeat Russia makes dialogue impossible, Vedomosti noted. He added that Europe should be at the table, but asked why it is needed there now.

The Hybrid-War Accusations

European governments blame Russia for a wave of sabotage and airspace incidents. Germany said on Sept. 1 that Russia was behind an attempted explosive-drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Reuters reported.

Suspected Russian drones have been downed over Poland, Finland and the Baltic states, Al Jazeera reported. Ukraine accuses Russia of sinking four cargo ships off Bulgaria in October.

Putin demands proof, and Russian officials call the accusations “absurd,” the BBC reported. For the Western debate on rhetoric, see the Pentagon’s call to Europe.