Measures and forces: Russia will respond in a mirror manner to any nuclear tests

Russia is aware of the intentions of some countries to conduct nuclear tests — Moscow, if implemented, will react in a mirror manner. The response to possible supplies of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kiev will be to strengthen our air defenses. And Vladimir Putin called the threats to strike Moscow a "form of ponting." The Russian president made a number of high-profile statements following his visit to Tajikistan, where the CIS summit was held on October 10. The Russian leader also noted the importance of the new CIS Plus format and noted that the cooling in relations with Azerbaijan is rather a "crisis of emotions." The information about what Putin was given on October 7 and who he intends to meet with in the near future is in the Izvestia article.

How did Putin's visit to Dushanbe end?

Vladimir Putin has completed his visit to Tajikistan: On October 10, the leader arrived at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe to attend a meeting of the Council of Heads of the CIS member States. The summit was also attended by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting of the council was opened by the leader of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, as chairman of the CIS bodies in 2025. This year was held under the auspices of expanding cooperation in the economy, transport and digital integration. Now it's up to Turkmenistan. Ashgabat will assume the CIS presidency in 2026.

The Russian president said at the summit in Dushanbe that the CIS has already established itself as an authoritative integration association. The trade turnover of the Russian Federation with the CIS countries increased by 7% in 2024, to $112 billion, he noted. Moreover, mutual settlements between the CIS countries are almost entirely carried out in national currencies, their share in commercial transactions in the first half of 2025 was 96%. Other leaders also noted the positive economic growth rates of the CIS countries: moreover, according to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, this can be achieved despite "the frenzied sanctions pressure from the West." At the same time, Russia and the CIS member states should strive for leadership in the manufacturing sector, and not just focus on import substitution, Vladimir Putin believes.

They also touched upon the situation in the region, in particular, the Ukrainian crisis. Thus, Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia continues to work on its settlement based on the principles discussed at the Alaska summit. He stated that he generally appreciates the results of that meeting. He promised to tell his CIS colleagues in a narrow circle about the results of his conversation with Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin also invited the leaders of the Commonwealth countries to an informal meeting in Russia at the end of the year. Traditionally, it takes place in St. Petersburg. Upon completion, the heads of state signed a package of documents, including, in particular, the decision to establish the CIS+ format and grant the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) observer status in the commonwealth.

The Russian Federation and the United States remain within the framework of the agreements in Alaska

Vladimir Putin continued the topic of settlement during his conversation with journalists. Speaking about preserving the "spirit of Anchorage," he said that Russia and the United States have an understanding on what steps could lead to a peaceful settlement of the conflict. According to the Russian leader, Moscow and Washington continue to proceed from the agreements reached during the discussion in Alaska. Putin clarified that the discussion of these issues with Trump in Anchorage was frank, but the parties did not disclose all the topics.

— Donald and I have agreed that I will need to think about it in Moscow and talk with our colleagues and allies about these issues, too. And he told me the same thing. These are complex issues that require additional study, but we remain on the basis of the discussion that took place in Anchorage," the head of state noted.

One of the journalists, asking a question about the possible transfer of American Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, noted that Kiev "threatens to hit Russia, almost the Kremlin," and added that this looks like "a form of ponting... blackmail."

— You didn't misspoke. And ponting, too," Putin noted.

According to him, Russia will oppose the possible supply of long-range missiles to Kiev by further strengthening its air defense system.

On October 6, the US president announced that he had actually made a decision on the possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to the armed forces of Ukraine, but did not definitively announce it. Donald Trump stressed that he intends first to figure out exactly how Kiev is going to use these weapons.

On October 8, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on Washington to show restraint, warning that such steps could spiral into confrontation and cause irreparable damage to Russian-American relations.

Answering a question about the extension of the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START Treaty), the president stressed that Russia and the United States maintain contacts through the Foreign Ministry and the State Department, and the next few months can be used to coordinate the parameters of the agreement. At the same time, Putin admitted that Washington's refusal to extend the agreement would not be critical for Russia.

— We are ready to negotiate if it is acceptable and useful for the Americans, for the American side. If not, then no. But it would be a pity, because then there would be nothing left in terms of deterrence in the field of strategic and offensive weapons," he said.

According to the president, Moscow is actively promoting new types of weapons, which were previously mentioned, and their tests are successful. The country's Armed Forces already have the Dagger and Avangard hypersonic systems. At the same time, Russia is aware of the intentions of a number of countries to conduct nuclear tests. He warned that if they are implemented, Moscow will respond in a mirror manner.

The military presented Putin with two icons

The Head of State recalled that on his birthday, October 7, he and the commanders of the Russian troops visited the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, where the Russian emperors rest. According to Putin, flowers were laid, first of all, at the tomb of Peter the Great.

— Because it was Peter the Great who laid the basic, fundamental foundations of the modern Russian state. Whatever it may be called — the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union — but it was Peter I who laid the basic, fundamental foundations," the president stressed. — And our military and commanders, and our fighters, officers on the ground, in fact, protect what Peter I created in his time, but then his followers strengthened him.

Putin also said that on his birthday, the commanders of the groups of troops reported to him on the situation in each sector of the front. In addition, the military presented the head of state with several memorable gifts.

— Two of them are of special value: one of the commanders gave me two icons with bullet dents on them, and they gave me these icons as a gift. I am very grateful to them," the Russian leader noted.

The President added that he intends to meet with the servicemen again in the near future and personally thank them. "I want to convey my most sincere words of gratitude to them through the media, and may the Lord keep them the same as He has kept them until now," he said.

On Trump's peace initiatives

Separately, the Russian president commented on the initiatives of the head of the White House on the Middle East. Putin noted that Trump is making real efforts to achieve peace in the region, in particular, to resolve the situation around Gaza. Earlier, the American president said that Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement had reached an agreement on the first phase of a peace plan for the settlement in the strip.

— He (Trump — Ed.) is really doing a lot to resolve such complex crises. And as I have already said, I know for sure that he sincerely strives for this in relation to the crisis in Ukraine. Maybe we will still be able to do a lot based on the agreements in Anchorage, but he is definitely trying, he is definitely working on these issues," the Russian leader noted.

At the same time, Putin refused to evaluate the Nobel Committee's decision not to award the peace Prize to Trump, recalling that in different years the award was given to people "who have done nothing for peace."

Commenting on the postponement of the Russian-Arab summit, Putin stressed that he would not like to interfere in the Middle East settlement process, which is currently developing. According to him, Russia has a high level of trust with Arab countries, including Palestine, and is ready to contribute if the partners deem it appropriate.

Relations with post-Soviet countries

The President also stressed that Tajikistan remains an important partner, particularly in terms of security, not only for the entire Commonwealth of Independent States, but also for Russia itself. Among the most pressing issues of international relations is labor migration, agreements on which were signed the day before. The President stressed that the Russian Federation is interested in labor from the region, but in compliance with the laws. The creation of the CIS Plus format will also strengthen the positions of the post-Soviet countries on the world stage.

— This is an important decision, because it makes the organization no longer some kind of family gathering, but gives it the status of an international organization. There are many states that would like to participate in our work, that are interested in working together, in finding common interests and ways to achieve them, and in solving common tasks," the Russian leader said.

The current state of relations between Moscow and Baku remains an important issue.: Vladimir Putin met with Ilham Aliyev yesterday, the first full—fledged talks since the plane crash. At the same time, the incident cannot be called a crisis of interstate relations, Vladimir Putin believes.

— If this were a crisis in international relations, then we would not have an increase in trade and economic ties. And despite everything that we have seen and faced, there is still growth, and significant growth has continued. What kind of crisis is this in interstate relations? — said the Russian leader.

According to him, it was most likely a "crisis of emotions."