Putin tells Russians 'the whole of Ukraine is ours' in 'disdainful' speech
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Vladimir Putin promised 'catastrophic' consequences for Ukraine and claimed that the Russian and Ukrainian people were 'one nation' in a conference this week.
The Russian president answered questions on a variety of issues at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and said Ukraine could lose more territory if it keeps rejecting Russia's conditions for peace.
'I have said many times that I consider the Russian and Ukrainian people to be one nation. In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours,' he claimed.
'We have a saying, or a parable. Where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours.'
He also said if Ukraine used a dirty bomb against Russia, which Kyiv has repeatedly said they will not do, the consequences would be 'catastrophic'.
'This would be a colossal mistake on the part of those whom we call neo-Nazis on the territory of today's Ukraine.'
The outlandish remarks come as Putin has refused to give up any land taken from Ukraine after their 2022 invasion, which sparked all-out war.
Russia has gained control over a part of Ukraine roughly the size of the state of Virginia, and is refusing to give it back, stalling peace talks.
Moscow's claims to four Ukrainian regions and Crimea are illegal, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected the notion that Russians and Ukrainians are one people.
Putin also boasted about Russia's economic outlook at the event in St Petersburg, claiming Russia managed to curb inflation and ease its reliance on energy exports.
His remarks were a far cry from other statements by some members of his government, who warned at the same conference that Russia could face a recession.
Economic Minister Maxim Reshetnikov had said that the country is 'on the brink of going into a recession'.
Putin mentioned the recession warnings but pointed out that manufacturing industries have posted steady growth, allowing the country to reduce its reliance on oil and gas exports. More Trending
He's used the annual forum to highlight Russia's economic prowess and encourage foreign investment, but Western executives have shunned it after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, leaving it to business leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Putin said the growth of military industries helped develop new technologies that have become available to the civilian sector.
He vowed to continue military modernisation, relying on lessons learned during the fighting in Ukraine.
'We will raise the capability of the Russian armed forces, modernise military infrastructure and equip the troops with cutting-edge equipment,' he claimed.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: One of Putin's cannibal soldiers 'killed his own comrade to eat him for two weeks'
MORE: Russian tech billionaire Pavel Durov claims to have over 100 children
MORE: Russia 'upgrades' its nuclear sites closest to the UK
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Vladimir Putin given stark 'on the verge' warning by top minister
Russia's economy could be 'on the verge' of a recession, according to one of the top officials in Vladimir Putin's Kremlin - Russia's economy remains on a war footing Vladimir Putin received a stark warning from one of his own ministers as Russia's economy remains on a war footing. The Russian Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said that Russia 's economy is 'on the verge' of transitioning to a recession. 'We have a cooling stage,' Reshetnikov said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, calling the numbers bedding his comments like looking at a 'rearview mirror'. He said: 'According to current business perceptions, we are already, it seems, on the verge of a transition to a recession.' Reshetnikov said that a recession was not inevitable and would depend on decisions taken by the Kremlin. Putin, in a speech at the forum, mentioned the recession warnings but emphasised that 'it mustn't be allowed'. Putin said Russia has managed to curb inflation and ease its reliance on energy exports. He pointed out that manufacturing industries have posted steady growth, allowing the country to reduce its reliance on oil and gas exports. 'The perception of Russian economy as based on raw materials and dependent on hydrocarbons exports have clearly become outdated,' Putin said, adding that the economy grew by 1.5 percent in the first four months of 2025 and inflation has dropped from double digits to 9.6 percent. Putin has used the annual forum to highlight Russia's economic prowess and encourage foreign investment, but Western executives have shunned it after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, leaving it to business leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The economy, hit with a slew of Western sanctions, has so far outperformed predictions. High defence spending has propelled growth and kept unemployment low despite fuelling inflation. Large recruiting bonuses for military enlistees and death benefits for those killed in Ukraine also have put more income into the country's poorer regions. But over the long term, inflation and a lack of foreign investments pose threats to the economy. Economists have warned of mounting pressure on the economy and the likelihood it would stagnate due to lack of investment in sectors other than the military. Putin said the growth of military industries helped develop new technologies that have become available to the civilian sector. He vowed to continue military modernisation, relying on lessons learned during the fighting in Ukraine. 'We will raise the capability of the Russian armed forces, modernize military infrastructure and equip the troops with cutting-edge equipment,' Putin said. But Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said that the factors that had helped Russia with sustained growth could no longer be relied upon. On June 19, The Moscow Times said that Nabiullina said Russia had been growing on the back of 'free resources'. This includes its bank reserves, liquid assets in the country's wealth fund, industry and labour. Such resources are now reaching their limit, Nabiullina said. 'We grew for two years at a fairly high pace because free resources were activated," she said. "We need to understand that many of those resources have truly been exhausted."
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Putin sends his own dead soldiers to Ukraine in 'disdain for fallen troops'
Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia repatriated at least 20 of its own dead soldiers in recent exchanges with Ukraine - 'they threw the corpses of their citizens at us,' he said Vladimir Putin's Russia has been handing over its own deceased troops to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Zelensky said the bodies of 20 Russian soldiers had been received. The exchange had been agreed in the early June talks between Ukraine and Russia. It saw Ukraine receive the bodies of 6,057 of its soldiers, while Russia said 6,060 bodies had been transferred to Ukraine and that the remains of 78 of its own soldiers were repatriated. It is not clear why there is such a large difference between the number of exchanged bodies, but Russia may have been able to recover its own dead following small territorial gains. The process was monitored by members of the Red Cross. "It has already been confirmed during repatriations that the bodies of 20 people handed over to us as our deceased soldiers are Russian," Zelensky said, describing it as a result of Moscow's disorganisation in carrying out large swaps of wounded POWs and remains of troops.. He said the Russian side insisted the dead were all Ukrainians, adding "Sometimes these bodies even have Russian passports". 'They threw the corpses of their citizens at us. This is their attitude toward war, toward their soldiers. And this is already documented. Sometimes these bodies even have Russian passports,' he said. One of the bodies is an ' Israeli mercenary' fighting for Russia, Zelensky said. It comes after Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the body of a Russian soldier being handed to Ukraine showed how Russia "treats its people with contempt". Mr Klymenko said that one of the bodies, labelled 'No. 192/25', was identified as Alexander Viktorovich Bugaev. Bugaev, born in 1974, was carrying a Russian passport and was dressed in a Russian military uniform. Officials also found a military ID that said he had served in the 1st Battalion of the 39th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, the Kyiv Independent reported. 'This is yet another proof of how Russia treats its people with contempt, throwing their bodies onto the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers," Klymenko said. He said that Bugaev's family had been searching for him for months. The minister also said that Russia had located his remains after he went missing amid fighting close to the village of Novomykhailivka in Donetsk, but they chose to 'dump' his body. "This shows how little human life means to Russia,' said Klymenko. 'Or maybe it's just a way to avoid paying compensation to the families. But they will have to pay anyway: we are returning these bodies." As the was continues to rage in Ukraine, a total of 77 combat clashes between the two sides were recorded today, according to an update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a Facebook post.
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Dame Prue Leith's son blasted after saying she doesn't 'see sense' in debate
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The son of Dame Prue Leith has caught backlash after speaking out on the divisive assisted dying law, saying his mother has failed to 'see sense'. Conservative MP Danny Kruger has campaigned against assisted dying, while Dame Prue has voiced her support, having watched her brother, David, in agony towards the end of his life. In the latest development, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill cleared the Commons with a majority of 23 votes on Friday. However, the legislation could face a difficult passage through the House of Lords, with critics continuing to raise safeguarding concerns and poised to table amendments adding further restrictions. Interviewed on Friday, Kruger, 50, was quizzed on having opposing views to GBBO star Dame Prue, 85. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. The South African-British restaurateur has said for years that she wants the law to pass, which, if it does, will make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to receive medical assistance to end their lives in England and Wales. There will be a series of criteria that a person must meet to be eligible. Appearing on BBC's Newsnight, Kruger was asked whether being on opposite sides of the argument has impacted his relationship with his mum. 'This debate actually has not broken any friendships for me at all, including of my own Party and certainly with my mum,' he began. 'We seem to be able to disagree well on this.' 'I think these are very profound issues, both in conscience but also practicality,' he continued. 'I regret my mum has not seen sense and come round to my point of view, but I understand why she hasn't.' It was Kruger's final statement that caught many viewers' attention, with @dicofran on X calling it 'condescending'. 'Breathtaking arrogance towards Prue Leith', slammed @JoBlandUnity. 'Massive man baby has a tantrum because a woman has her own point of view', replied @ClaireDunkley4. 'How arrogant. Accusing his own mother of not seeing sense, because she doesn't share his views', argued @NWomxn. Previously, the Tory politician said to Sky News that it is 'impossible' for the assisted dying bill to be 'tight enough'. He said no one in the UK would need the option if the UK had 'top-quality palliative care'. In a series of tweets last night, he further accused assisted dying campaigners of being 'militant anti-Christians' who had failed to 'engage with the detail of the Bill'. However, Dame Prue believes his attitudes would shift had he witnessed his 'uncle die or his father die'. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Asked if she and her son lock horns over the heated topic, Dame Prue admitted that they 'mostly don't get into it'. 'It always just gets into the long discussion, which is never bad-tempered, I must say, you know, because we are very fond of each other.' Kruger, who has been the MP for East Wiltshire since 2019, lost his father, Rayne Kruger, in 2002. As for his uncle, David was in his sixties and had bone cancer, with his sister Dame Prue having been by his side when he was 'screaming' in pain. Speaking to Sky broadcaster Sophie Ridge, Dame Prue recalled how morphine only worked 'for a couple of hours' with him. 'They only did it every four hours. And so he was really first crying, whimpering, moaning, then crying, then screaming, and then absolutely desperate. 'And the rest of the ward have to suffer it. The nurses have to suffer. His family have to suffer it.' She said he was 'begging for somebody to help him'. More Trending 'He would say things like, 'If I was a dog, if I was a horse, you would do the right thing by me, you'd put me down'.' Dame Prue believes there is 'no question' that the current legal set-up is not working. Other celebrities throwing their support behind the legislation include Dame Esther Rantzen, who turns 85 tomorrow. The TV star has terminal cancer but has acknowledged the law would probably not become law in time for her to use it, and she would have to 'buzz off to Zurich' to use the Dignitas clinic. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Dragons' Den star reveals their strict rule children's friends must follow MORE: Disgraced Strictly star slams 'double standards' at BBC after Naga Munchetty 'sex jibe' MORE: Legendary BBC series hailed as 'guilty pleasure' streaming on completely free UK service
