Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed reporters during his trip to Kazakhstan on Friday, providing an update on the Ukraine conflict and tensions with NATO in Europe.
In his remarks, Putin stated that “the situation on the battlefield gives reason to believe that (the conflict) is drawing to a close.” He noted that while Moscow maintains “certain contacts,” no peace talks are being held at the moment.
The president dismissed Western claims of Russian aggression as “brazen lies,” asserting Russia was forced to intervene in Ukraine after Kiev failed to implement the 2014-15 Minsk accords with the breakaway Donbass republics, which later voted to become part of Russia. He argued that Western leaders are using the conflict to justify “unreasonable” military spending hikes and urged them not to mislead their people.
Responding to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, who had recently raised concerns about NATO’s ability to attack Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Putin declared that Russia would treat all Ukrainian drone launch sites as legitimate targets. He also called for Romania to provide objective data regarding a Friday incident in the city of Galati near the Ukrainian border that injured two people and was blamed by NATO on Russia.
Additionally, Putin criticized Western media outlets for failing to report on a recent tragedy in Starobelsk where 21 students were killed and over 40 injured by suspected Ukrainian drones. He stated: “Not a single word was said about the tragedy in Starobelsk, where our children were deliberately killed. Not a single word, as though it never happened.”
On Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, Putin warned that the country’s drive for closer integration with the EU could become incompatible with its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He noted that leaving the EAEU would cost Armenia at least 14% of its GDP. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was recently endorsed by US President Donald Trump, stated that Armenia is not planning to terminate its membership in the EAEU at this stage.
Putin also added that Russia has “enormous capabilities in nuclear and hydroelectric power, particularly in Siberia” and that the country has “clear advantages” in the global AI race.
