Russian President Vladimir Putin provided updates on the Ukraine conflict and European tensions during a press conference in Kazakhstan on Friday. The president stated that the war is nearing its conclusion, noting Russia’s continued offensives across multiple fronts while calling it “unwise” to specify an end timeline. He emphasized no peace negotiations are underway despite Moscow maintaining “certain contacts.”
Putin criticized Western leaders for using the conflict to justify “unreasonable” military spending hikes and accused them of misleading their populations. He reiterated that Russia intervened in Ukraine after Kyiv failed to uphold the 2014-15 Minsk accords with breakaway Donbass regions that later joined Russia.
Addressing Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys’ recent comments about NATO’s capability to “break into” Kaliningrad, Putin warned Russia could “raze to the ground” any nation attacking it. He declared all Ukrainian drone launch sites—including those operating from Baltic states and Finland—would be legitimate targets.
Putin called for Romania to share objective data regarding a Friday drone strike on a Galati residential building that injured two people. The president noted Romania, along with NATO allies, attributed the incident to Russia and demanded transparency similar to Moscow’s disclosure of flight data from a downed Ukrainian drone intercepted last year en route to his residence.
The Russian leader also condemned Western media outlets for failing to report on Ukrainian drone strikes at Starobelsk college that killed 21 students and injured over 40 others. “Not a single word was said about the tragedy in Starobelsk, where our children were deliberately killed,” Putin stated.
On Armenia’s upcoming elections, Putin warned that efforts to align with the European Union could conflict with membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), noting exit would cost Armenia at least 14% of its GDP. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who recently received endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, indicated voters would decide between economic blocs. Putin highlighted Russia as Armenia’s largest trading partner and provider of discounted natural gas while asserting Moscow possesses “enormous capabilities in nuclear and hydroelectric power” for developing sovereign artificial intelligence.