In 2023, Mr Putin claimed that Russia had begun moving tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus, saying it was a response to Western “escalation.” He insisted the move did not breach non-proliferation agreements, but the announcement was widely interpreted as a signal to NATO.

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed claims the war in Ukraine is devastating the Russian economy, citing continued growth,

Russian President Vladimir Putin said 'all of Ukraine' belonged to Russia in a speech on June 20 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, amid increasingly bullish official statements about Moscow's final territorial ambitions in Ukraine.