Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused Western nations of crossing Russia’s “red lines” and issued a stern warning about lifting restrictions on Russian missile deployment. Speaking to defense officials in Moscow, Putin expressed concern over U.S. advancements in the development and potential deployment of short- and medium-range missiles. He declared that Russia would respond by removing its self-imposed limits on missile deployment if the U.S. proceeded with such actions According to the news from the Daily Mail.
Putin emphasized that Russia’s nuclear arsenal remains a tool of deterrence but warned that any Western provocation could force a strategic recalibration. These comments come as Putin claimed Russian forces in Ukraine have seized control of 189 settlements this year, marking what he described as a “landmark year” in Moscow’s military campaign.
Addressing senior military generals in a televised meeting, Putin boasted that Russian troops held a decisive advantage along the entire front line in Ukraine. “Russian troops are firmly holding the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact,” he said, highlighting recent territorial gains as evidence of Moscow’s growing dominance in the conflict.
Following Putin’s remarks, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov provided additional details on military progress, claiming that Russian forces have captured nearly 4,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2024, with daily advances of approximately 30 square kilometers. Belousov stated that Ukraine now controls less than one percent of the eastern Lugansk region and about 25–30 percent of the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. These areas were controversially annexed by Moscow in 2022 despite not being fully under Russian control.
The Russian military also reported the capture of another village in the contested Donetsk region, reinforcing their claims of consistent territorial advances.
Putin’s statements underline escalating tensions between Moscow and the West, with his warning about missile deployments potentially signaling a new phase of geopolitical standoff. As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, the implications of these developments could extend far beyond the battlefield.
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