Overview

• Speaking at the Valdai forum, Vladimir Putin said Russia would answer perceived European rearmament swiftly and maintained that Moscow did not initiate military confrontation.
• He blamed European governments and elites for escalating and prolonging the war in Ukraine.
• He touted the Russian military as highly combat-capable and claimed forces are advancing along much of the front line.
• The Kremlin has rejected proposals for a long-term ceasefire, saying what it calls the conflict’s root causes must be addressed first.
• In Copenhagen, Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged limited Russian gains in 2025 and urged tougher sanctions, including tighter curbs on oil and refined-product trade.