DefenceTalkPresident Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Jun 6) Russia was prepared to drop a nuclear weapons treaty with the US and warned of “global catastrophe” if Washington keeps dismantling an international arms control regime. Speaking to heads of international news agencies at an economic forum in the city of Saint Petersburg, Putin said Washington showed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-says-russia-prepared-to-drop-start-nuclear-arms-treaty-with-us-72315/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia has suspended its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, one day after the United States made a similar announcement. Putin met in Moscow on February 2 with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss Russia’s reaction to the long-expected U.S. move. “We […]https://www.defencetalk.com/in-tit-for-tat-move-putin-announces-russian-suspension-of-inf-treaty-72108/

DefenceTalkRussia’s navy will deploy a total of 26 new ships this year including four carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, President Vladimir Putin said Sunday as the country celebrated Navy Day with a show of strength. “In total in 2018 the navy should get 26 new warships, motor boats and vessels including four warships with Kalibr cruise […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-navy-in-show-of-strength-with-26-new-ships-this-year-71760/

DefenceTalkRussian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed the country’s new state arms procurement program, which includes, among other things, robotics, intelligence systems, UAVs and precision ammunition. “Yes, the document has been signed by the president,” Rogozin said in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper, when asked a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-signs-new-state-arms-program-focused-on-cutting-edge-weaponry-71516/

DefenceTalkRussia and Turkey have agreed to lift nearly all remaining trade restrictions imposed in the aftermath of Ankara’s downing of a Russian warplane in 2015, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. “You asked when we can speak about the lifting of the restrictions that emerged some time ago. We can speak of that today,” Putin said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-turkey-agree-to-lift-nearly-all-trade-restrictions-69892/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for the country to reinforce its military nuclear potential and praised the army’s performance in its Syria campaign. In a speech that recapped military activities in 2016, Putin said the army’s preparedness has “considerably increased” and called for continued improvement that would ensure it can “neutralize any military […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-urges-russian-nuclear-weapons-boost-68723/

DefenceTalkPresident Vladimir Putin said Russia would strive to reach an elusive deal on a territorial dispute and normalise relations with Japan ahead of his visit to the country later this week. Putin will arrive in Japan on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the hope of breaking the ice on an agreement […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-calls-for-peace-treaty-with-japan-ahead-of-visit-68674/

DefenceTalkTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jets into Russia Tuesday for his first meeting with counterpart Vladimir Putin since the two strongmen leaders began healing a bitter feud over Ankara’s downing of a Russian warplane. Erdogan’s visit to Putin’s hometown of Saint Petersburg is also his first foreign trip since the failed coup against him last […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-and-erdogan-meet-to-mend-ties-after-jet-downing-rift-67967/

DefenceTalkVladimir Putin surprised his country and the world on March 14 by ordering the start of a partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria, less than six months after the beginning of an air campaign that followed a swift and secretive buildup on the ground. What are the motives and messages behind the announcement? A […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putins-pullout-behind-russias-new-syria-surprise-67063/

DefenceTalkIn a surprise move, President Vladimir Putin has instructed Russia’s armed forces to start pulling out of Syria. Putin told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on March 14 that Russian military forces had largely fulfilled their objectives in Syria. “I am therefore ordering the defense minister, from tomorrow, to start the withdrawal of the main part […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-orders-syrian-withdrawal-saying-goals-achieved-67047/