Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a comprehensive speech on Tuesday at the annual Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. He discussed Moscow’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and criticized anti-war elites in exile. Additionally, he emphasized Russia’s development of “weapons based on new physical principles.”
Putin’s speech comes ahead of a highly anticipated summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who arrived in Russia on Tuesday. Experts speculate that Moscow may seek artillery shells and anti-tank missiles from Pyongyang to strengthen its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has lasted for almost 19 months.
“Weapons based on new physical principles will ensure the security of any country in the near future. We understand this very well and we’re working on it,” stated Putin during the forum’s plenary session.
Although Putin did not provide details about the specific futuristic weapons Russia is developing, the state-run TASS news agency mentioned that they include laser, ultrasonic, and radio-frequency weapons.
Conflict in Ukraine
Putin reiterated his previous claims that Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive to reclaim occupied territories has been unsuccessful.
He stated that Ukrainian forces have lost around 71,500 soldiers, 18,000 armored vehicles, and 543 tanks since launching the counteroffensive in June. These numbers cannot be independently verified, but Putin’s estimate significantly exceeds the Russian Defense Ministry’s assessment of Ukraine’s equipment losses during the entire period since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
In addition, Putin claimed that 270,000 people have volunteered to sign contracts with the Russian military over the past six months.
Meanwhile, the Russian leader blamed Ukraine for refusing to negotiate an end to the conflict, asserting, “First, they need to repeal their decree that bans talks and announce their readiness, then we’ll see.”
Business and Economy
Shifting the focus to business and the economy, which were the main topics of the forum, Putin sought to address concerns that his government was seizing private enterprises. These concerns arose as the Kremlin attempted to entice wealthy Russians to repatriate their assets.
“There won’t be any de-privatization, I can assure you of that. However, law enforcement agencies have the right to assess specific cases of what’s happening in the economy, particularly when the prosecutor’s office is actively involved in certain sectors and companies,” explained Putin.
However, Putin had harsh words for his former aide Anatoly Chubais, who resigned and fled the country shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. He also criticized tech billionaire Arkady Volozh, who was among the few members of the Russian business elite to condemn the invasion.
“Anatoly Borisovich [Chubais] is hiding there [in Israel] for some reason. I saw a photo on the internet where he’s no longer Anatoly Borisovich Chubais but Moisha Israeliyevich. I don’t understand why he ran away,” remarked Putin.
Putin suggested that Chubais may have left Russia due to fears of criminal prosecution related to a financial irregularity in the state nanotechnology company Rusnano, which he led until 2020.
Similarly, Putin shared his thoughts on Volozh’s recent condemnation of Russia’s “barbaric invasion of Ukraine” and his self-identification as a “Kazakhstan-born tech entrepreneur” who has resided in Israel since 2015.
“[Volozh] remained silent for a long time, and then he decided to make statements,” stated Putin. “God bless him, and may he live well there. To be honest, it doesn’t affect us.”
Despite this, Putin did not hide his belief that the founder of the tech giant Yandex, from which Volozh resigned in mid-2022, had betrayed Russia.
“If a person grew up on this soil, received an education, and achieved success, they should have a sense of loyalty to the country that provided them with everything,” Putin remarked.
Foreign Affairs
In terms of foreign affairs, Putin expressed doubt that there would be a change in U.S. policies towards Russia after the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. He accused Washington of fueling anti-Russian sentiments among ordinary Americans.
Furthermore, Putin defended former U.S. President Donald Trump and criticized the legal proceedings against him as “politically motivated persecution” that “reveals the flaws of the American system.”
“This shows who we are fighting,” commented Putin. “As they said in Soviet times – ‘the bestial face of American capitalism’.”
Putin also denied any strain in Russia’s relations with its ally Armenia, despite mounting frustrations in Yerevan regarding Moscow’s perceived failure to act as a security guarantor during tensions with regional rival Azerbaijan.
He noted that Armenia itself has recognized Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, where Russian humanitarian aid was delivered on Tuesday.
AFP contributed to this report.
