Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Moscow has faced sweeping Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
“Russia has demonstrated its steadiness in the economy, finance, in the internal political situation of the society … and in the sphere of defense capacity,” Putin said.
Putin also said that Russia is ready for dialogue with Europe, but that won’t be possible with the current crop of European politicians.
Despite periodic statements about openness to negotiations, the Kremlin has continued military operations and has rejected peace proposals that would require a withdrawal from occupied Ukrainian territory, with Kyiv and its allies accusing Russia of using talks as leverage rather than engaging in good-faith diplomacy.
U.S. and Russian officials are expected to meet in Miami this weekend as part of the Trump administration’s push to bring an end to nearly four years of war between Kyiv and Moscow.
Putin also praised the Russian military, saying that “no one in the world” has an army as good as Russia’s and that it is now “war experienced.”