Putin in St. Petersburg: Ukraine belongs to us! - threats and ambitions

Putin in St. Petersburg: Ukraine belongs to us! - threats and ambitions

Wladimir Putin at the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg on June 20, 2025 reaffirmed its claims to Ukraine. He explained that he vehemently contested the independence of the Ukrainian people and spoke of a unity between Russians and Ukrainians. "In this sense, the whole Ukraine belongs to us," he explained, making it clear his aggressive attitude towards the neighboring country. Putin also plans the further expansion of the Russian armaments industry and sees it as a essential pillar of the economy.

asked about the conquest of Ukraine, he said: "Where the foot of a Russian soldier is, that belongs to us". While Russia grants Ukraine a certain right to sovereignty, it also demands a return to the neutral status of 1991. The Russian presence near the Ukrainian capital Sumy is given; Russian troops have taken towns there for months and built a buffer zone. The front line is currently about 18 kilometers from Sumy, and Putin indicated that taking the city is not excluded.

Current developments and military threats

The military aggression in Russia continues: In the past three years, the country has annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Saporischschja and Cherson. A escalation of the situation threatens should not agree with the Russian demands to terminate the war. President Wolodymyr Selenskyj pointed out the decline of the Russian economy and compared Putin to an "Ayatollah", which indicates the potential consequences of such regime.

economic situation and international reactions

Putin drew a positive balance of the Russian economy, with GDP growth of over four percent in the past two years and an inflation rate of 9.6 percent. However, he warned of possible resignative economic developments and called for reforms to avert an upcoming recession. In the middle of the geopolitical tensions, the backing of the EU and military support for Ukraine is becoming increasingly important, especially by countries such as the USA, Great Britain and Poland.

The persistent crisis between Russia and Ukraine has had its roots in the historical relationship between the two countries and the independence of Ukraine since 1991. The Putsch, which brought the pro-Western government in Kiev in Kiev in 2014, led to the annexation of the Crimea and the support of separatists in Eastern Ukraine by Russia. With currently over 130,000 Russian soldiers on the Ukrainian border, the situation is tense, with Russia continued to assure no warlike intentions.

The western countries have reacted to this aggression with sanctions, while Ukraine is increasingly looking for military support in order to be prepared for the challenges. In the current situation, the uncertainty about the next steps remains in this complex conflict.

Further information on the backgrounds and developments related to the Ukraine-Russland conflict can be found here: Austria24 , NZZ .