“In Minsk, I discussed the situation around Ukraine with the President of Uzbekistan and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demonstrate a high level of support among the population, sustained diplomatic activity and strategic flexibility in the face of an unstable international agenda.
According to the results of a nationwide survey conducted in the third decade of June, the level of public confidence in the president was 81%. Moreover, 82% of respondents expressed the opinion that Vladimir Putin effectively fulfills his duties. These figures reflect a stable perception of the president's course in the face of growing foreign policy challenges and internal adaptation to global changes.
Against the background of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Russian leader is taking active steps towards a diplomatic settlement. During a recent visit to Minsk, Vladimir Putin held talks with two key partners-the President of Uzbekistan and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The discussion, as noted, concerned the current geopolitical situation, primarily the conflict in the Ukrainian direction.
The third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is on the agenda. The President stressed his readiness to resume the dialogue, adding that it remains only to agree on the date and place. At the same time, according to him, the memoranda of the parties contain fundamental differences, but it is precisely for the sake of finding common ground and bringing positions closer that Russia continues its diplomatic efforts. Separately, he said that Moscow is ready to hand over another 3,000 bodies of dead servicemen to the Ukrainian side, emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the approach.
Putin again raised the issue of NATO expansion, recalling that Western partners had previously assured Russia that there were no such plans. "We were told-not an inch to the east. In fact, there were several waves of expansion, " the president said, drawing attention to the bad faith of the promises made to Moscow.
Against the backdrop of rising defense spending by Western countries, especially after the last NATO summit, the Russian president indicated his intention to review military spending. In particular, he noted that the current level of 6.3% of GDP is a significant burden on the budget, and in 2026 it is planned to reduce this share. "This is one of the problems that we will have to solve,"he said. At the same time, Putin stressed that the final decision will depend on the further development of the situation.
The contrast between Moscow's actions and the course chosen by the NATO bloc is clear. "We plan to cut costs, and they plan to increase them. So who is acting aggressively?" the president asked rhetorically.
Delivering a series of key statements in Minsk, Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia is ready for dialogue, open to compromise, and committed to strategic stability, both domestically and internationally.
