The Kremlin chief’s appearance: “The whole Ukraine is our” – Putin at the Economic Forum

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin confirmed the Russian claim to Ukraine and threatened for the first time with a possible conquest of the Ukrainian area capital Sumy. “We don’t have the goal of taking Sumy, but in principle I don’t rule it out,” said Putin in St. Petersburg at the International Economic Forum.

The Russian troops have been taking more and more towns in the area of ​​the same name in the northeast of Ukraine. Putin explained that his forces built a buffer zone there. So far she has been going into the country ten to twelve kilometers deep. It is possible to take the area capital Sumy. The front line runs only about 18 kilometers from the city limits.

Putin: “Where the foot of a Russian soldier is, that’s ours.”

He sees Russians and Ukrainians as a people, Putin said at the Forum’s plenary session in his hometown. “In this sense, the whole Ukraine is ours,” he said in the hall with great applause. When asked how far he wanted to conquer Ukraine, he replied: “Where the foot of a Russian soldier is, that belongs to us.” He also got applause for this.

Putin clearly shows that he did not want peace, the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Kiev reacted. “Russia wants to wage war,” he said in a video message. There are always new threats from Russia. “This means that the pressure that the world exerts does not hurt them yet.”

Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha said where a Russian soldier always put his foot, he brings death and destruction. Putin statements made the US peace efforts. “There is a Ukrainian drone for every leg of a Russian soldier,” wrote Selenskyj’s speech writer Dmytro Lytwyn in the network X.

Kremlin wants neutral Ukraine

So far, Russia has annexed the Ukrainian areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Saporischschja and Cherson in the more than three years of war. Moscow recently threatened with the fact that further regions could follow if Kiev did not agree to the Russian maximum demands for the end of the war.

The Russian president once again justified the war with the east expansion of NATO. Moscow does not want to allow a possible access to the possible alliance. Ukraine was released from the Soviet Union in 1991 as a neutral state, Putin said. She should return to the neutral status.

When asked, he replied that his procedure in Ukraine should not be equated with the claim of US President Donald Trump after Iran unconditionally surrendered. Russia does not strive to surrender to Ukraine. “We insist on recognizing the realities that have arisen on site.” This means that the Russian leadership means that its troops master a large part of Ukraine and further advantage.

Moscow supports civilian use in Iran

In the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program, Putin emphasized that Moscow supported the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the country. Despite all the adversity, Russia built a nuclear reactor in Buschehr and concluded contracts on the construction of two other reactors. The work in Buschehr continues despite a certain danger and the difficult situation. “We don’t evacuate our staff from there,” said Putin, who had given the number this week with 600 Russians in the facility.

Putin more optimistic than his Minister of Economy

The Kremlin boss traditionally dedicates his appearance at the Economic Forum. But he also spoke about economy and announced that the Russian armaments industry should be expanded further. Russia must come away from a subdivision between civil and pure armaments.

Overall, the Kremlin boss drew a positive conclusion of economic development. In view of the warnings of Economic Minister Maxim Reschetnikow about a possible recession, Putin explained: “Stagnation or even recession must not be allowed.” Selenskyj also reacted to the weaknesses mentioned. “The Russian economy is already in decline. We support this process even more!” He said.