Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a defiant yet measured tone on Thursday as he addressed journalists following a turbulent week in U.S.–Russia relations. The remarks came after Washington announced sweeping sanctions on Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil, postponed a planned summit between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest, and floated the idea of supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Putin downplayed the latest economic measures, calling them “a hostile act” but insisting that they would not seriously damage Russia’s economy. “New sanctions against Russia will not significantly affect the country’s economic well-being,” he said, noting that Moscow had long prepared for further U.S. pressure.
Despite the growing rift, Putin still left the door open for renewed dialogue with Washington. “Russia and the U.S. have many areas for cooperation if the countries move from pressure to serious dialogue for the future,” he said, suggesting that diplomacy was not yet off the table even as tensions deepened.
The Russian leader also issued one of his strongest warnings yet regarding the reported U.S. discussions to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. “Talks about the possibility of supplying Tomahawk missiles to Kiev are an attempt at escalation,” Putin said. “Russia’s response in the case of Tomahawk strikes on Russian territory will be serious, if not downright staggering.”
The comments marked a notable shift in tone from Putin’s earlier remarks at the Valdai Conference last month, when he had merely stated that Russia would “strengthen its air defenses” in response to any such move—a statement that drew criticism from Russian media and political commentators for being overly cautious.
Many within Moscow’s elite appear increasingly skeptical that Trump can be a reliable negotiating partner. Former Russian President and current Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev posted on Telegram that Russia “must finish the Ukraine war on its own terms, without constantly looking toward Washington for negotiations.”
As relations between Moscow and Washington spiral into renewed hostility, Thursday’s remarks signaled that Putin is preparing for a more confrontational phase—both militarily and diplomatically—while still leaving a narrow channel open for future talks.