During the annual meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Vladimir Putin assured that he will liberate historical Russian territories in Ukraine. But he said calls in the West to prepare for a major war against Moscow were hysteria.
“Se If the adversary and its foreign sponsors refuse to talk about it, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical territories through military means,” he said, quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE.
From who invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow declared the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia e Khersonafter having done the same to Crimea in 2014. Putin stressed that he preferred to recover the territories “and eliminate the original causes of the conflict with the help of diplomacy”, when speaking before the defense summit in Moscow.
Putin reaffirmed that if maintain the objectives of the “special military operation”the official Russian designation for the conflict, na time when negotiations are underway on a North American plan to try to end guerra. A statement leaves little room for Russia to accept Kiev’s demands, such as not giving up territory.
Russian troops “crushing” Ukrainian troops
Moscow will achieve, “without any doubt, all the objectives” of the operation, assured the supreme commander of the Russian armed forces, also quoted by the French news agency.Presse (AFP). Putin highlighted that the Russian troops this year “liberated” more than 300 locations in Ukraine. But experts independentsuch as the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), claim that Russian forces have conquered less than 1% of Ukrainian territory since January.
Putin he also spoke of the “high combat capacity” of Russian soldiers, despite Kiev counting “on the potential of member countries of the largest political-military bloc in the world, NATO”.
“The year that is now ending was an important stage in the fulfillment of the missions of the special military operation. The Russian army maintains the strategic initiative along the entire front line”, he stated.
He claimed that the Russian troops “are crushing” elite Ukrainian units trained in Western instruction centers and equipped with modern foreign weapons. He also highlighted that the Russia will continue to expand the security range in the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk e Amounts. And aannounced that the new hypersonic ballistic missile Oreshnik will enter service in the armed forces before the end of the year and defined as a priority improve nuclear forces strategic.
“As previously, these will play an important role in deterring the aggressor and maintaining the balance of power in the world”, he stated.
O Oreshnikmedium range and capable of carrying nuclear warheads, can theoretically achieve objectives thousands of kilometers awaywith a margin of error of just a few tens of meters, according to EFE. Os missiles were used for the first time in late 2024, in an attack on a military factory in the region of Dnipropetrovskin the east of Ukraine.
Cooperation with the USA (and lack thereof with Europe)
Putin He also defended cooperation “on equal footing” with the United States “for the formation of a unique space security system Eurasian“.
“We salute the progress made in dialogue with the new North American Administration, which, unfortunately, cannot be said about the current leaders of most European countries”, he stated.
Also thanked North Korea for sending military personnel to fight in the Russian border region of Kurskafter a Ukrainian incursion in August 2024, and in the demining work that is taking place followed.
“By Comrade Kim’s decision Jong-unwere sent to participate in the liberation of the region of Kursk and fought courageously against the enemy, shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers”, he stated.
“AND It is our duty to remember forever all our fallen comrades-in-arms, to support families, children, their parents”, he added, asking for a minute of silence.
