Putin says Russia won’t launch new attacks if treated with respect at annual press conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters at his annual televised press conference in Moscow that Moscow would refrain from launching new attacks on other countries if it is treated with respect. He described Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a special military operation and framed it as a response to what he called NATO expansion and Western security guarantees that he said threatened Moscow. The remarks come as European governments monitor Moscow's posture amid ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

According to AFP and other outlets, Putin said there would be no further Russian invasions if Western states do not cheat Russia like they did with NATO eastward expansion. He also said he was ready and willing to end the war in Ukraine peacefully, though he offered few concrete concessions. The annual press conference, which typically lasts several hours, draws questions from reporters and the public across Russia.

AP reported that Putin said Russia's troops are advancing along the line of contact, with the enemy retreating in all sectors, though the pace of progress varies by area. Reuters noted that the event drew more than 2.5 million questions submitted for this year’s session. The remarks crystallized Moscow's portrayal of the war as a confrontation driven by Western actions while presenting Russia as ready to pause or end fighting under terms it deems favorable to its security interests.

Putin used the forum to reiterate Moscow’s stance on Ukraine and to argue that Russia has repeatedly sought to observe others' interests while criticizing Western security guarantees. He suggested that progress toward an end to the conflict could be possible if Kyiv accepts Russia’s terms in peace talks, a position Moscow has pressed for in negotiations conducted amid the fighting.

As the war persists, the European Union has approved a loan package to Ukraine totaling more than 105 billion dollars, underscoring continued Western financial support for Kyiv as the conflict endures. The loan news comes as member states weigh sustaining economic and military aid to Kyiv in the face of continued fighting and sanctions pressure on Moscow. Analysts note that the press conference remains a key venue for Moscow to project resilience and to frame the war for both domestic and international audiences.

The annual event, held at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, is traditionally lengthy and covers a wide array of topics beyond Ukraine, but this year’s session focused heavily on the war and Russia’s broader security interests. Putin’s comments come at a time when Western governments continue to calibrate their policies toward Moscow, while Kyiv and its allies press for sustained international support against Russia’s invasion.

In the broader context, the conflict has shaped security discussions across Europe and beyond, with NATO members and partners weighing responses to Russian actions and Russia’s stated goals. The Kremlin has repeatedly asserted that its military operations are defensive and aimed at ensuring Russia’s interests, while critics describe the campaign as a broader attempt to redraw regional security arrangements. The press conference appearances, often watched by millions, provide a window into Moscow’s current posture and its messaging to both domestic and international audiences.

As the war continues and international attention remains fixed on Moscow’s next moves, Kyiv and its supporters insist that Russian aggression must be met with sustained political and military pressure, coupled with continued economic support for Ukraine. The Kremlin, for its part, has signaled it will pursue its objectives using whatever means it deems necessary, including diplomacy on its own terms if Western actors alter their approach to Russia’s core security concerns.