Putin Vows Stronger Air Defences As Ukraine Hits Deep Inside Russia

Kremlin Admits Drone Strikes Are Getting Through

Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted Ukrainian drones are successfully penetrating Russia's air defence network, pledging to strengthen protections after a series of embarrassing strikes deep inside Russian territory.

Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks were reaching targets far beyond the front line.

"To our regret, some of them break through," he said. "We need to improve and strengthen our air defence system, and we will do that."

The comments came just hours after Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and a naval facility near St Petersburg, casting a shadow over one of the Kremlin's most important annual events.

Ukraine Brings The War To Putin's Doorstep

The attacks underline Kyiv's growing ability to strike hundreds of miles inside Russia.

What was once a conflict largely confined to Ukrainian territory is increasingly being felt by ordinary Russians.

The latest raid disrupted flights, forced authorities to restrict mobile internet services and sent black smoke rising over Russia's second-largest city.

The strike was particularly embarrassing for the Kremlin because it occurred as foreign delegations arrived for the annual investment forum often described as Russia's answer to Davos.

Putin Pushes Trump Peace Formula

The Russian leader also signalled support for proposals discussed with Donald Trump during their summit in Alaska.

Putin said compromises discussed there could form the basis of a future peace settlement and urged Ukraine to accept them.

He insisted Russia wanted a comprehensive agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire.

"There is no need to suspend hostilities to start negotiations," Putin said, arguing that battlefield gains gave Moscow leverage in any future talks.

Zelensky Calls For Direct Meeting

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed face-to-face negotiations with Putin in a public letter.

Zelensky acknowledged that American attention has increasingly shifted towards the conflict with Iran and argued Ukraine could not afford to wait for Washington's focus to return.

Trump welcomed the prospect of direct talks, saying it would be "great" if the two leaders met.

The Kremlin responded cautiously, repeating that any summit would only happen once a deal was ready to be signed.

Russia Claims Battlefield Momentum

Putin used the forum to paint an optimistic picture of Russia's military position.

He claimed Russian forces were advancing along the entire front and reiterated his objective of capturing all of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

According to Putin, Russian patriotism and determination would ultimately deliver victory.

He also defended Russia's use of its new Oreshnik ballistic missile, describing previous launches as tests designed to evaluate accuracy and performance before wider deployment.

Moscow Rejects European Mediation

The Russian president dismissed suggestions that European nations could act as peace brokers.

Moscow has repeatedly accused European governments of taking Ukraine's side and argued they cannot be neutral mediators.

"How can Russia trust people who have been talking for years about strategically defeating Russia?" Putin asked.

Instead, he suggested any future mediators would need the confidence of both Moscow and Kyiv.

Iran, Economy And The Future

Putin also addressed the conflict involving Iran, saying Russia remained willing to store Iranian enriched uranium as part of a future diplomatic agreement, similar to arrangements made under the 2015 nuclear deal.

On the economy, he rejected suggestions that sanctions and war spending were crippling Russia.

Borrowing a famous quote often attributed to Mark Twain, Putin joked that reports of Russia's economic demise were "greatly exaggerated".

However, he admitted inflation remains a serious challenge and defended the central bank's decision to maintain high interest rates.

Questions Over Putin's Future

Asked whether he intended to remain in power until 2036, when he would be 83 years old, Putin laughed off the suggestion.

"Only God knows if any of us will be healthy enough to survive until tomorrow," he said.

Despite the remark, constitutional changes introduced in 2020 allow him to remain in office for another decade if he chooses.

SOURCE

Ukraine launched one of its most ambitious long-range drone assaults of the war, targeting military sites around St Petersburg and forcing Russian authorities to issue unprecedented warnings as Vladimir Putin hosted a flagship economic forum designed to showcase Russia's resilience.

Russian officials said more than 140 drones were intercepted over the surrounding Leningrad region, describing the attack as unlike anything the area had faced since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Kyiv Pushes the War to Putin's Doorstep

The strikes hit at the heart of Russia's second city during the final day of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, a key event aimed at attracting foreign investment despite years of Western sanctions.

Leningrad governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said a military facility caught fire and residents were evacuated, while St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov urged people to remain indoors for the first time since the war began. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation targeted naval arsenals and a military base in Kronstadt, home to Russia's Baltic Fleet.

Economic Showcase Overshadowed by Security Fears

The timing could hardly have been more damaging for the Kremlin. Thousands of delegates from more than 130 countries were attending the forum, including a rare US delegation, when air defence systems were forced into action around the city.

The attack underlined Kyiv's growing ability to strike deep inside Russian territory, challenging Moscow's claims that critical infrastructure and strategic assets remain secure.

Putin Rejects Talks as Pressure Mounts

The escalation came just one day after Putin dismissed Zelensky's call for direct negotiations. Speaking at the forum, the Russian leader argued that any ceasefire would simply allow Ukraine to regroup and repeated that Russia would only end the war on its own terms.

Ukraine continues to reject demands to surrender territory or abandon its Nato ambitions, warning that concessions would encourage future aggression.

Drone War Expands Across the Front

Zelensky said Ukrainian forces also struck an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region as part of a campaign targeting infrastructure that supports Moscow's war effort.

Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities in occupied Luhansk suspended transport services and imposed new security restrictions after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on logistics routes. With Kyiv increasingly capable of reaching targets hundreds of miles from the battlefield, the conflict is becoming harder for Russia to contain — and more difficult for the Kremlin to keep distant from ordinary life.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7498kz808o