In a televised speech, Putin said on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day: “Our country remains open to direct and frank dialogue to find diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems.”
“But the interests and security of our citizens are not negotiable for us,” the Russian president was quoted as saying by AFP.
Putin calls on Western countries for security guarantees, including that Ukraine does not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization “NATO”, and stop strengthening the alliance’s presence at Russia’s borders.
The Russian president referred to threats to Russia, including the “laxity in the arms control system” and “the military activities of NATO,” stressing that his country’s concerns remain “unanswered.”
On Russia’s military capabilities, Putin promised to continue developing the capabilities of the Russian army and fleet, “advanced digital technology” and artificial intelligence, as well as “hypersonic” weapons.
It is noteworthy that Russia has developed over the past years, hypersonic missiles, which it says are “invincible” because they are able to circumvent all current defense shields.
Russia, suspected for weeks of preparing an invasion of Ukraine, has recognized the independence of two breakaway regions loyal to it in eastern Ukraine, raising fears of a military escalation at the European Union’s borders.
On the field level, the Ukrainian army said, on Wednesday, that a soldier was killed and 6 wounded in shelling carried out by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, with continued violations of the ceasefire at a high level.
The army added on its Facebook page that it had monitored 96 incidents of shelling by separatists in the past 24 hours, compared to 84 on Tuesday.
He pointed out that the separatist forces used heavy artillery, mortars and the “Grad” missile system.
Ukraine accuses Russia of provocative violence, saying it is using it as a pretext to officially recognize the independence of eastern Ukraine and move its forces into the region, causing a crisis that the West fears could lead to all-out war.