ISTANBUL

The deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said on Monday that speculation in European countries about a possible war with Russia in the next five years “should not happen,” stressing it goes against Moscow’s interests.

“Russia does not need a war with anyone in principle, including with the frigid old Europe. There is nothing to gain there,” Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

He also argued that Europe’s economy is “weak and dependent on the US” and accused the continent of “losing its identity, dissolving into aggressive migrants.”

Medvedev dismissed the possibility of European states starting a war themselves, claiming they are “vulnerable and divided.”

At the same time, he warned of “the likelihood of a fatal accident” and the risk of escalation could potentially lead to the use of weapons of mass destruction, he said.

Medvedev, who also served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, has repeatedly made harsh statements against Western governments throughout the Ukraine war. His latest remarks follow growing debates in Europe on defense spending and security preparedness.