Russia have 'unfriendly elites' in certain countries: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday voiced optimism about Russia-US ties, saying there was “light at the end of the tunnel” in relations that have hit their lowest point in years, as the two sides explore cooperation on projects in the Arctic and Alaska. "As for our relations with the United States, they are at an extremely low level. I have said this many times. "However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel now that President (Donald) Trump has come to power,” Putin said in televised remarks during a meeting with nuclear industry workers in the town of Sarov, the birthplace of the Soviet atomic programme. Relations between Moscow and Washington have sharply deteriorated over issues ranging from the Ukraine conflict, NATO's eastward expansion, and sanctions against Russia. Stressing on the need to uphold Russia’s sovereignty, Putin said, “There are countries that can easily exist without sovereignty. Today, the entire Western Europe has in fact no sovereignty. There are also many other countries that are okay about it. However, it’s not for Russia: if Russia loses sovereignty, it will cease to exist in this present form.”

Putin warns Western Europe has LOST its SOVEREIGNTY

‘All of today's Western Europe is practically DEPRIVED of such sovereignty’

‘Russia will CEASE to exist’ if it loses sovereignty

‘For a country like ours, it is extremely important… to be able to MAINTAIN its sovereignty’ https://t.co/y6Xr3MXIeC pic.twitter.com/7qItfcZxh5

— RT (@RT_com) August 22, 2025

Putin said Russia does not have any ‘unfriendly’ countries, we have unfriendly ELITES in some countries. He also claimed that Russia did NOT start conflict in Ukraine. Moscow’s doing everything to stop it. Conflict began in 2014 ‘when they began using tanks aircraft’ against civilians in Donbass, Putin said.

Russia did NOT start conflict in Ukraine — Putin

Moscow’s doing EVERYTHING to stop it

Conflict began in 2014 ‘when they began using tanks aircraft’ against CIVILIANS in Donbass https://t.co/HOaWEYxmFk pic.twitter.com/KQ2JXcx2JN

— RT (@RT_com) August 22, 2025

“The nuclear industry remains one of the most important areas for us," Putin said. He also identified Artificial Intelligence as the next major challenge for Russia, stressing the need for the country to stay at the forefront of advanced technologies built on AI.