Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that his country’s military has seized the initiative in Ukraine after repelling a monthslong counteroffensive and is well positioned to achieve Moscow’s goals. He spoke at a meeting with top military brass a day after presenting documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to seek reelection in the March presidential vote. “Our troops are holding the initiative, the Russian leader said. “We are effectively doing what we think is needed, doing what we want. Where our commanders consider it necessary to stick to active defenses they are doing so, and we are improving our positions where it's needed."

During the counteroffensive that began in early June, Ukrainian forces have failed to make any significant gains as they faced multiecheloned Russian defensive lines, including sprawling minefields. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Russian minefields spread for 7,000 kilometers and 650,000 Russian soldiers have received combat experience in Ukraine, turning the Russian army into “the best prepared and capable army in the world, armed with advanced weapons that have been tested in combat.

Despite the sanctions, Shoigu stated that Russian arms industries have increased the output of tanks by 5.6 times, the number of drones built by 16.8 times, and bolstered the production of artillery munitions by 17.5 times since the start of what the Kremlin calls “the special military operation in Ukraine. Putin also emphasized the importance of bolstering the country’s nuclear forces, saying that their role has increased amid “the changing character of military threats and the emergence of new military-political risks. He reaffirmed his argument that he sent Russian troops into Ukraine to counter security threats posed by Western plans to incorporate the country in NATO, while also stating that Russia is open for talks to end the conflict but warned that “we won’t give up what is ours.”