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Russia's Putin says continuation of international conflicts is highly likely as world changes
Confirmed
In Short: Putin, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, warned that international conflicts were likely to continue in the coming years as major geopolitical changes reshape the international system.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal for a face-to-face meeting. Putin described Zelenskyy’s open letter as “boorish,” especially after a May 22 drone attack on a college dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region that Moscow said killed 21 and wounded many others.
Putin, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, warned that international conflicts were likely to continue in the coming years as major geopolitical changes reshape the international system. He said Russia had “no intention of attacking anyone,” presenting Moscow's position as focused on avoiding catastrophic scenarios.
Putin also stated that the global situation would eventually improve as Western hegemony declined. He added that Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his last year’s summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska.
In Washington, former President Donald Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy meet. However, Putin said last month he doesn’t exclude a meeting in a third country, but only when there is a deal to sign.
Putin warned that Russia would use “all types of weapons” if its Kaliningrad exclave were attacked. He also said Russia would ensure the safety of the envoys in Kyiv, a city Moscow has pounded with deadly strikes this summer.
Putin noted that the Ukrainian side had significantly reduced its strikes on Russia, according to Lemonde. He also said developing countries have gained an increasingly important role in the global economy, while the share of output by Western countries has shrunk.
In a separate development, Russia’s main Kremlin party, United Russia, was dominating the country’s first wartime parliamentary election, according to early returns released from a tightly controlled election virtually devoid of opposition to Putin’s policies.
Some opposition parties, such as Yabloko and the Communist Party, reported that many of their observers were turned away from polling stations. Some protesters joined an anti-war demonstration, holding anti-war and anti-Putin posters.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to further strengthen the special relationship between their countries, discussing areas such as energy and defense. They also discussed conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region that have affected maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.
Russia's share of Indian crude imports rose in 2023, reaching a record 51% in July, as disruptions to Middle East supplies increased Indian refiners' reliance on Russian oil.
Modi reiterated that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and that India stands ready to assist in peace efforts.
What this adds
Putin's comments and actions reflect a continued hardline stance on the conflict with Ukraine, despite calls for dialogue from other world leaders.
What's confirmed
- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal for a face-to-face meeting. Putin described Zelenskyy’s open letter as “boorish,” especially after a May 22 drone attack on a college dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region that Moscow said killed 21 and wounded many others.
- Putin, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, warned that international conflicts were likely to continue in the coming years as major geopolitical changes reshape the international system. He said Russia had “no intention of attacking anyone,” presenting Moscow's position as focused on avoiding catastrophic scenarios.
- Putin also stated that the global situation would eventually improve as Western hegemony declined. He added that Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his last year’s summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska.
- In Washington, former President Donald Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy meet. However, Putin said last month he doesn’t exclude a meeting in a third country, but only when there is a deal to sign.
- Putin warned that Russia would use “all types of weapons” if its Kaliningrad exclave were attacked. He also said Russia would ensure the safety of the envoys in Kyiv, a city Moscow has pounded with deadly strikes this summer.
- Putin noted that the Ukrainian side had significantly reduced its strikes on Russia, according to Lemonde. He also said developing countries have gained an increasingly important role in the global economy, while the share of output by Western countries has shrunk.
- In a separate development, Russia’s main Kremlin party, United Russia, was dominating the country’s first wartime parliamentary election, according to early returns released from a tightly controlled election virtually devoid of opposition to Putin’s policies.
- Some opposition parties, such as Yabloko and the Communist Party, reported that many of their observers were turned away from polling stations. Some protesters joined an anti-war demonstration, holding anti-war and anti-Putin posters.
- India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to further strengthen the special relationship between their countries, discussing areas such as energy and defense. They also discussed conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region that have affected maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.
- Russia's share of Indian crude imports rose in 2023, reaching a record 51% in July, as disruptions to Middle East supplies increased Indian refiners' reliance on Russian oil.
- Modi reiterated that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and that India stands ready to assist in peace efforts.
What's still developing
- His comments came as he discussed the continuing risk of international conflicts and the changing global balance of power.
- Thursday’s letter, the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, was a sweeping critique of the Russian leader’s 26 years in power as well as some taunts about his age.
- “I think it’s the second.” Putin added that a Russian businessman whom he didn’t identify traveled to Kyiv last month and met with Zelenskyy to hear his offer of a personal meeting.
- A spokesperson for the European Commission said on Sept. 18 that it was a violation of international law to hold voting in the regions occupied by Russia.
- "I always give the same answer: if you want to help a democratic Russia, the most important thing you can do is to protect Ukraine from Putin," Yashin said.
- More than a hundred people chanted "Putin is a war criminal" and "Russia will be free" at a rainy protest outside the Russian consulate in New York on Sept.
- Friday, Modi said he presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, a revered classical text in India's Tamil language comprising 1,330 couplets on virtue, governance and love, attributed to the poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.