Russian President Vladimir Putin has commented on the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, accusing the Ukrainian government of being run by a group of embezzlers who benefit from the ongoing conflict. He claimed that these individuals are not interested in peace, as the war allows them to maintain their positions of power.
Putin also highlighted the role of Western countries in supporting Ukraine's military efforts. He accused the West of encouraging terrorist attacks by Kiev against civilians, particularly during the start of federal elections in Russia. These actions amount to a direct assault on citizens' constitutional freedoms.
In addition to his comments on Ukraine, Putin addressed various aspects of Russia's defense strategy. He emphasized the importance of strengthening Russia's nuclear triad as a guarantee of the country's sovereignty and international balance of power. The development of unmanned systems and precision-guided weapons was also noted as a priority in the new state arms program.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned what it describes as NATO's provocative actions near the Kaliningrad Region. The ministry claims that NATO is rehearsing scenarios for blockading Kaliningrad and isolating St. Petersburg, with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski calling for increased military exercises near Russia's borders.
On the economic front, Russia continues to expand its trade relationships. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev announced that Russia ranks third globally in fish and seafood exports, with promising prospects for further trade expansion in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
In the realm of energy, Rosneft has included an oil price of $45 per barrel in its 2025 business plan, with a slight decrease to $42-43 for 2026. This comes as the current price of Brent crude oil hovers slightly above $77 per barrel.
Turning to domestic affairs, the turnout for Russia's federal remote electronic voting platform has reached 70%, with over 2.8 million people having already cast their votes. In Moscow alone, nearly 2.3 million people participated in the elections, with the majority voting online.
In other developments, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces conducted two massive strikes on Ukrainian targets in the past week. These strikes included a logistics hub near Odessa used to store military supplies from Europe.
Additionally, the Russian Foreign Ministry has urged Japan to reconsider the deployment of US Typhon systems on its territory, deeming it unacceptable. The ministry emphasized the need for Japan to heed calls for the removal of these systems.
As tensions persist, the Russian government continues to focus on modernizing its defense capabilities. Putin has stressed the need for Russia's air defenses to be capable of repelling any attack, highlighting the improvement of the air defense system as a key focus area.
In the aviation sector, Russia is making strides with the supply of new passenger jets to Aeroflot. The signing of a contract for the supply of MS-21-310 aircraft marks a significant step in the development of Russia's aviation industry, according to Putin.
