President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia harbors no plans for further military conflicts, provided other nations show appropriate respect for its interests. He made these comments during a lengthy televised question-and-answer session, dismissing claims of potential attacks on Europe as baseless. He framed the ongoing war in Ukraine as a necessary response to Western deception, specifically referencing NATO's eastern expansion.
He expressed a conditional willingness to end the Ukraine conflict, repeating demands for Kyiv to relinquish claims on four occupied regions and abandon NATO ambitions. Putin asserted that Russian forces are gaining ground and criticized recent Ukrainian military actions. He also addressed domestic economic pressures, like rising prices, while fielding mostly friendly questions from the public and Russian media.
The Russian leader praised what he called sincere peace efforts by former US President Donald Trump but placed blame for the continued war on Western supporters of Ukraine. He invited cooperation with Europe and the US, but only on the terms of mutual respect and guaranteed security for Russia. The event concluded with lighter personal questions, where Putin claimed to believe in love at first sight.
He expressed a conditional willingness to end the Ukraine conflict, repeating demands for Kyiv to relinquish claims on four occupied regions and abandon NATO ambitions. Putin asserted that Russian forces are gaining ground and criticized recent Ukrainian military actions. He also addressed domestic economic pressures, like rising prices, while fielding mostly friendly questions from the public and Russian media.
The Russian leader praised what he called sincere peace efforts by former US President Donald Trump but placed blame for the continued war on Western supporters of Ukraine. He invited cooperation with Europe and the US, but only on the terms of mutual respect and guaranteed security for Russia. The event concluded with lighter personal questions, where Putin claimed to believe in love at first sight.
