Putin: No more wars if the West treats Russia with respect

WISE NEWS PRESS / MOSCOW, RUSSIA — DEC. 20, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared during his traditional year-end media marathon that there would be no more wars following Ukraine "if Russia is treated with respect". Speaking for approximately four and a half hours, Putin dismissed warnings from Western intelligence and NATO officials regarding potential Russian attacks on European nations as "nonsense".

Responding to questions about whether there would be "new special military operations," Putin stated that no such actions would take place if the West respects Russian interests. He reiterated his long-standing grievance regarding NATO's eastward expansion, claiming the West had "cheated" Russia despite alleged past commitments. Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to cooperate with the UK, Europe, and the US, provided the engagement is based on "equal terms" and "mutual respect".

Conditions for Peace and Trump's Involvement

While claiming he is "ready and willing" to end the war peacefully, Putin showed little sign of compromise on his core demands. He insisted that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the four partially occupied regions and that Kiev must abandon its aspirations to join NATO. Furthermore, Putin suggested he would stop the bombing of Ukraine if new elections were held as part of a peace proposal.

The Russian leader praised US President Donald Trump for his "sincere" efforts to mediate the conflict. However, he maintained that the "ball is in the court" of Western rivals and European sponsors of the Kiev government, arguing that Moscow is not the party blocking a settlement. Delegations are expected to continue discussions regarding peace frameworks in Miami, USA, later this week.

Domestic Pressures and Economic Reality

The year-end event also highlighted domestic challenges within Russia. Critical comments from the public were displayed on large screens, with citizens complaining about "crazy price increases," poor water quality, and internet outages. Officials attributed the mobile internet disruptions to Ukrainian drone strikes.

Despite the Kremlin's efforts to project economic resilience, Putin addressed the rising cost of living and the upcoming VAT increase from 20% to 22% scheduled for January 1. Simultaneously, the Russian Central Bank announced it had lowered interest rates to 16% as the President spoke. These domestic grievances appeared alongside reports that Russia continues to maintain a military force of 700,000 personnel in the conflict zone.

www.wisenewspress.com