The Russian president fielded questions on Ukraine, strategic partnerships, new weapons systems, the Middle East, and Moscow’s relations with the West

Published 4 Jun, 2026 16:48 | Updated 4 Jun, 2026 21:11

©  Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov

Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrapped up a wide-ranging Q&A with the heads of major global news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, taking more than 20 questions on the Ukraine conflict and new weapons systems, as well as strategic partnerships, the Middle East, and relations with the West. Here are the key points from what Putin said.

 

– Control of Donbass and a deal on Ukraine “do not contradict each other.” Moscow is “without doubt” ready for a peaceful settlement based on the compromise discussed with US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, if Kiev also agrees.

 

– Russia did not use the Oreshnik system “in the full sense” in strikes on Ukrainian territory. “We tested similar systems at training grounds, but not the Oreshnik. This was not combat use.” 

 

– The Russian Army now controls all of the Lugansk People’s Republic, more than 85% of the Donetsk People’s Republic and almost 80% of Zaporozhye Region.

 

– Answering a question about a possible new presidential term, Putin said the Constitution allows him to run again in 2030, but it is “far too early” to discuss it and he is “not even thinking about that right now.” 

 

– Russia has not made any sudden “pivot” to Asia; its close ties with China have been built up over many years, as Moscow and Beijing are “natural allies and partners,” as well as neighbors.

 

– On potential talks with Kiev, Putin said Russia would sign any future document with a “legitimate representative” of Ukraine, calling this “not a whim.” He added that there is “no need” to halt hostilities to hold negotiations.

 

– The European Union could play “a positive role,” not by sending more weapons but by trying to persuade the Ukrainian authorities to accept the compromises discussed in Anchorage.

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04 June 2026

19:58 GMT

Putin said corruption in Ukraine has “already taken root and is flourishing,” adding that Western weapons are proliferating from the country’s territory “all over the world.” He said “European experts” themselves estimate that “hundreds of billions of euros” will be needed to rebuild Ukraine’s economy.

19:37 GMT

The creation of a Palestinian state is “the only solution” to resolving the Middle East crisis, Putin has said.

19:34 GMT

Moscow is ready to do anything it can to help settle the Iran war, Putin has said.

“If anything depends on Russia, we’re always ready to offer a shoulder,” he said. “We will do everything in our power. If our help is needed, we will help resolve the conflict.”

Russia has repeatedly offered to remove Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile from the country, as the US pressed demands to curb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

“Our proposals are known to the American administration, and they are known to our Iranian friends and partners,” Putin said.

Russia helped move Iranian enriched uranium from the country in 2015, which “formed the basis” of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Putin said. Under the now-defunct nuclear deal, Tehran had agreed to curb its enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

 

19:19 GMT

Putin has used former British PM Theresa May’s notorious “highly likely” phrase to expose the lack of foundation behind Western claims of malign activity attributed to Moscow. “There’s certain figures in the West who try to attempt it about the Russian Federation... Where is the proof? There’s none. They’re simply not willing to talk to Russia,” he said.

19:13 GMT

Russia did not use the Oreshnik system “in the full sense” in strikes on Ukrainian territory, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

 

“We tested similar systems at training grounds, but not the Oreshnik. This was not combat use. We have not had a single combat use of the Oreshnik in the full sense of the word on Ukrainian territory,” Putin added.

 

According to the president, the most recent strikes using the Oreshnik were carried out “where it was convenient to see the results.”

19:12 GMT

Answering a question about a possible new presidential term, Putin said the Russian Constitution allows him to run again in 2030, but it is “far too early” to discuss the issue. “I’m not even thinking about that right now,” he told the heads of international news agencies at SPIEF.

18:58 GMT

In response to a suggestion that Russia could attack NATO, Putin was as clear-cut and emphatic as he has been throughout the meeting. “I have to ask why, why would we do that?... This is nonsense, more than nonsense, it’s a deliberate provocation...” he told the reporters.

 

18:55 GMT

Vladimir Putin’s Q&A with international news agency heads is over now, but the RT team will continue providing you with his most important points.

18:51 GMT

The people of Iran have proven that “their interests must be taken into account” in any peace deal with the US and Israel, Putin has said.

The Iranian people have demonstrated unity and a willingness to fight

He stressed that despite Western speculation that Russia has emerged as the sole beneficiary of the rising energy prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, Moscow “will simply rejoice with everyone when this crisis is over.”

 

18:41 GMT

Any final peace agreement needs to be signed with the “absolutely legitimate” representatives of Ukraine, Putin has stressed.

Whether Vladimir Zelensky is the country’s legitimate representative, is “a question for lawyers” to determine, he said.

“We can only sign with those people who are absolutely, in the full sense of the word, legitimate to sign documents of this kind.”

Moscow has long pointed out that the Ukrainian leader’s presidential term expired in May 2024.

 

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