The Russian president used the military alliance’s annual meeting to clarify crucial points about the current standoff with Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed key military and political issues to allies during his speech at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday.
The CSTO military alliance comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Putin’s remarks provide new insights into Russia’s military strategies and objectives, particularly regarding Ukraine.
Here are the key takeaways from his address:
Ukraine has launched attacks on Moscow and St. Petersburg
Putin stated that Kiev has “repeatedly attempted” to strike Russia’s two largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and pointed to Russia’s justification for retaliatory military actions. He warned that such attacks by Ukraine would only further escalate the situation.
‘Decision-making centers’ in Kiev could become targets for Oreshnik strikes
Putin indicated that Russia would hit key Ukrainian strategic operational centers using its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile system, if necessary. “Military facilities, defense industry enterprises, and decision-making centers in Kiev may become targets for strikes. These will be selected based on the nature of the threats posed by Ukraine to Russia,” he said.
According to Putin, the Oreshnik missile has no equivalent in the world, and its testing and deployment is a response to continued Ukrainian missile strikes on Russian territory.
Russia already has hypersonic weapons ready for use
Putin confirmed that Russia has multiple Oreshnik missile systems ready for deployment. “We have several ready-to-use products of this kind available today,” he remarked, highlighting Moscow’s advanced hypersonic missile capabilities.
The Russian leader described the Oreshnik system as operating at speeds of Mach 10, making it highly effective against even deeply protected targets, with its destructive power comparable to that of nuclear weapons.
The system is one of Russia’s most advanced weapons, and many experts believe its deployment could significantly alter the balance of power in the Ukraine conflict.
Russia has a significant missile production advantage over NATO
Putin stressed Moscow’s overwhelming missile production capacity, declaring that “Russia produces ten times more long-range weapons than all NATO countries combined.”
He added that Russia would accelerate manufacturing in 2025, when “production will increase by another 25-30%,” emphasizing the scale of the country’s military-industrial capacity.
‘Illegitimate’ authorities in Kiev have no right to give orders to the Ukrainian armed forces
In a pointed political statement, Putin declared that the Ukrainian government under Vladimir Zelensky is illegitimate due to the expiration of his presidential term last summer.
“The authorities in Kiev are usurpers of power,” he said.
This reflects Russia’s growing concerns over the legitimacy of Ukraine’s government and leadership. “From a legal point of view, the Ukrainian authorities no longer have the right to command the armed forces,” Putin stated.
Zelensky has refused to hold fresh elections. An opinion poll commissioned last week by the American Political Services international consulting firm showed that only 16% of Ukrainians would vote for him in a fresh contest.
