Putin addressed the foreign journalists at the yearly St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. In his address, he warned the Western countries that had been supplying Ukraine with sophisticated weapons, saying: “Why don’t we have the right to send weapons of the same capacity to parts of the world where those nations’ vital infrastructure is going to be attacked?”

Furthermore, he cautioned against the Western assumption that Moscow would never use nuclear weapons. Citing the country’s doctrine on usage of nuclear weapons, Putin stated that if Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are threatened, “we consider it possible to use all means at our disposal.”

Additionally, regarding the zionist genocide in Gaza, Putin stated “We see the current situation in Gaza as a direct consequence of the United States’ failure. The formation of a Palestinian state is crucial for achieving peace in the region. The current situation in Gaza may be described as a complete annihilation of the civilian population, rather than a conventional battle.” (ILKHA)