Overview

• At the Valdai forum, Vladimir Putin said Russia would deliver a "very convincing" response to Europe’s militarization and insisted Moscow does not initiate military confrontations.
• He cautioned that Russia could deliver a "mirror" response to attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and alleged Ukrainian groups had previously sabotaged power lines to the Kursk and Smolensk nuclear facilities.
• Putin claimed Russian forces control nearly two thirds of Kupyansk and about half of Volchansk, asserted sufficient manpower, and said Russian losses are much lower than Ukraine’s, none of which was independently verified in the reports.
• Western commentary highlighted by Russian media argued Ukraine’s battlefield position is worsening and that additional weapons would not be decisive, echoing the Kremlin’s line that deliveries offer no quick fix.
• A Russian diplomat attributed a diplomatic "pause" to limited U.S. leverage and European political incentives, a captured Ukrainian soldier alleged frontline deception over an Alaska meeting, and Zelensky acknowledged small Russian advances while urging tougher sanctions.