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Russia Today
18 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Ukraine conflict settlement, future of US-Russia relations, NATO's ‘lies': Highlights from Putin's Q&A
Moscow will no longer play a 'one-sided game' with the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Minsk on Friday. During his press conference, Putin fielded questions on a wide range of issues, including the state of the economy, sanctions, and negotiations with Ukraine. Settlement of the Ukraine conflict Putin acknowledged that the roadmaps presented by the Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the second round of talks in Istanbul earlier this month were polar opposites. He said, however, that the talks were specifically held 'to look for ways to bring [our positions] closer.' He welcomed the ongoing prisoner swaps and the return of the remains of fallen soldiers agreed at the talks. According to Putin, Russia is ready to hand over the remains of some 3,000 Ukrainian troops, in addition to the 6,000 it has already returned. The president said Moscow is ready to continue negotiations. 'We are ready to hold such a meeting in Istanbul,' Putin stated, adding that the Russian and Ukrainian delegation leaders are 'in constant contact.' He said he believes the next meeting should focus on discussing each side's memorandums. No more 'one-sided' games with NATO When Western nations speak about Russia's 'aggressiveness,' they are 'turning everything upside down,' Putin said, referring to NATO members' pledge to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. According to Putin, NATO had 'blatantly lied' in the early 1990s when it promised not to expand eastward. He accused the alliance of constantly ignoring Russia's security concerns, particularly its warnings that NATO's expansion toward Russian borders would be viewed as a threat. 'That is what aggressive behavior looks like,' he said, adding that Moscow is done playing 'one-sided' games with the West. The president reiterated that Russia has no plans to attack NATO and intends to reduce defense spending over the next three years. NATO denies ever making commitments not to expand and insists it poses no threat to Russia. Western Europe 'about to drop dead' Russia is currently spending 6.3% of its GDP on defense, which is 'a lot,' Putin said. He acknowledged that the nation 'has paid for it with inflation,' but added that the government maintains a 'level-headed approach' to the issue. The difference, he argued, is that Russia is supporting its own defense industry, while NATO members in Europe are buying weapons from the US. Still, the Russian economy has grown by more than 4% for two years in a row, while growth in the euro area has been just 0.9%, he noted. Putin claimed that France and Germany are 'on the brink of recession.' 'They're about to drop dead, yet they're still trying to write our obituary,' he said. Ban on Russian oil trade will be unenforceable Putin reiterated that sweeping restrictions have failed to hinder Russia's growth. He expressed confidence that tougher sanctions on Russian oil exports – currently being discussed in the EU and US – will not change the situation. 'The world is consuming ever-increasing volumes of oil and petrochemicals as the global economy grows,' he said, adding that a ban on Russian oil will be 'de facto impossible' to enforce. Trump is a 'courageous man' Putin said he has 'deep respect' for US President Donald Trump, describing him as a 'courageous man' who has endured 'hardships, difficulties, and dangers.' He added that Moscow welcomes the Trump administration's efforts to help resolve the Ukraine conflict. The president did not rule out a future meeting with Trump, saying Russia would welcome the return of American companies to its market.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘One-sided game' in relations with West has ended
Russia will no longer play 'one-sided' games with the West, President Vladimir Putin has told journalists on the sidelines of the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Minsk. Western nations have repeatedly betrayed Russia by not fulfilling their promises related to NATO expansion and resolving the Ukraine conflict, he stated at a press conference on Friday. NATO is currently justifying its planned defense spending hike to 5% of its members' GDP and military buildup in Europe by pointing to Russia's 'aggressiveness,' Putin said, adding that the bloc's members are 'turning everything upside down' when they make statements such as these. 'No one is saying a word about how we've come up to the Russian special military operation,' the president said, adding that the roots of the Ukraine conflict go back decades when Moscow was 'blatantly lied to' about NATO expansion. 'What followed was one expansion wave after another,' he stated. Russia's security concerns about the bloc's activities have been consistently ignored and met with silence, according to Putin. 'Isn't it aggressive behavior? That is precisely aggressive behavior, which the West does not want to pay attention to.' According to the president, Western nations have supported separatism and even terrorism as long as it is directed against Russia. Terrorist groups were outright ignored if they acted on Russian territory, he claimed. 'Everything was good as long as it was against Russia. Haven't we seen this? They [the West] saw it as well. Yet, they only talk about our aggressiveness.' We are not aggressive. The Collective West is. The president's words came just days after the NATO summit in The Hague, where the bloc's members made a commitment to hike defense spending to 5% of GDP annually by 2035. The decision was made 'in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security,' the summit's statement said. Russia has said it considers NATO expansion towards its borders to be a major national security threat, and cited Kiev's ambitions to join the US-led bloc among the key reasons that led to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
Bloomberg
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Electric Cars Lose Appeal With New Drivers, Shell Survey Finds
Electric cars are losing their appeal for new drivers in Western nations, even as existing owners report increasing satisfaction with their battery-powered vehicles, according to a survey conducted by Shell Plc. The findings show that high upfront cost remains a significant barrier to electric vehicle adoption, with drivers of gasoline-powered cars in both the US and Europe reporting declining interest in making the switch, the survey showed.
Russia Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Putin outlines basis for peace in Europe
Peace and stability in Europe can only be achieved if the continent adopts a security framework that ensures the protection of all nations without compromising the interests of any one country, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Putin reiterated Russia's long-standing position during an address to an international gathering of senior security officials in Moscow on Wednesday. 'Our approach remains principled and unwavering,' Putin said. 'The new security architecture must be equal and indivisible, meaning that all states must have firm guarantees of their security, but not at the expense of the security and interests of other countries.' Russia has accused Western nations of violating this principle by expanding NATO eastward since the 1990s, breaking earlier assurances given to the Soviet Union to gain its support for German reunification. The military bloc's intention to eventually include Ukraine is cited by Russia as a key reason for its ongoing conflict with Kiev. Russian officials have labeled NATO a hostile organization and a tool of American geopolitical influence. They have also argued that the European Union, under NATO's sway, has deviated from its original mission of economic integration and has shifted toward military priorities. This week, EU member states approved a €150 billion ($170 billion) borrowing plan aimed at funding arms production and military procurement. Brussels has framed the move as a response to an alleged threat from Russia. Moscow denies the claims and says the EU is fearmongering to justify diverting funds from social programs to military expansion. The forum Putin addressed is hosted by the Russian Security Council and has convened annually since 2010. It brings together policymakers from dozens of non-Western nations and organizations to discuss a range of security concerns, including terrorism, cross-border crime, and global geopolitical instability.
Washington Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Ukraine and allies demand 30-day ceasefire, backed by threat of sanctions
Leaders of Western nations including the United States demanded Saturday that Moscow implement an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine starting May 12. If the Kremlin fails to comply, the leaders said they would strengthen sanctions against Russia's banking and energy sectors. 'We together demand this from Russia, we know that the United States supports us in this,' Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
