Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed his country’s readiness to respond seriously and decisively to any Ukrainian long-range weapon attacks inside Russian territory, describing such actions as a “dangerous escalation of the conflict.”
In a press statement, Putin said, “Any strikes deep inside Russia would be a clear escalation, and the Russian response will be serious and crushing.”
On the economic front, Putin stated that Russia’s energy sector remains confident despite some anticipated losses, emphasizing that Russia’s contribution to global energy balance remains highly significant.
He noted that he had discussed with U.S. President Donald Trump the impact of Russia’s position on oil supply and global prices, including within the United States, adding that any sharp decline in Russian oil on the market would lead to a significant price increase.
Putin also stressed that the new U.S. sanctions represent “an attempt to pressure Russia,” asserting that “no respectable country acts under pressure” and that these sanctions would not affect Russia’s economy.
On the diplomatic side, Putin expressed Russia’s desire to continue dialogue, suggesting that it was Trump who preferred to postpone the summit that had been scheduled between the two sides in Budapest.
Earlier, President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of the meeting with his Russian counterpart, telling reporters at the White House, “I didn’t feel comfortable.”
Trump added, “I didn’t feel we would reach the intended goal, so I canceled the meeting—but we’ll do it in the future.”
Last week, Trump had announced his intention to meet the Russian president in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, following a lengthy phone call between them, which he described as “extremely productive.”