Putin Keeps Calm However, Says Russia Isn’t Backing Off
In the Uzbek city of Samarkand, after a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, President Vladimir Putin handed a worn‑out smile to the news crowd, shrugging off a Ukrainian counter‑offensive that’s been blowing up Russian tanks in the Kharkiv region. He made it clear that the Trump‑level drama isn’t changing Moscow’s plans.
“Let’s see how it wraps up.”
When asked about the Ukrainian push, Putin joked, “The Kiev authorities announce a counter‑offensive, and well, let’s watch it develop, see where it ends.” The grin looked more like a rubbed‑off chuckle than a genuine shrug, but the message was unmistakable: the Russian army is still in it for the long haul.
Pressure Puts Out Pacing
After Ukrainian forces beat back Russian troops on the northeastern front, the Kremlin started reporting strikes on infrastructure such as a reservoir dam and power supply lines. Putin warned, “We’ve delivered some serious blows—view that as a warning. If we keep seeing this trend, the response will ramp up.” The army is reportedly tightening its grip on new sections of Ukraine.
“We’re not changing the plan.”
When pressed whether the “special military operation” needs a tweak, Putin answered simply: “The plan stands.” He highlighted that the General Staff prioritizes “one thing matters, the rest are second‑rate,” but the core mission remains the same: “Liberate the entire Donbas.”
Donbas and Beyond
Donbas, the mixed‑Russian‑speaking eastern provinces of Luhansk (now fully under Russian and separatist control) and Donetsk (partially controlled), remains a focal point. Moscow also owns a chunk of the south—Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and the historic annexation of Crimea, seized in 2014.
In summary, Putin’s remarks in Samarkand were a mash‑up of a tongue‑in‑cheek smile and a sober vow: the war will go on, and should Ukraine keep mounting offensives, Moscow promises a sharper response— the Kremlin’s version of a “get‑us‑out‑of‑here” short notice.
