Russian President Vladimir Putin in Murmansk on working visit

Vladimir Putin speaks with Arkhangelsk cruiser submarine crew members.
Photo: RIA Novosti

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Murmansk Region on a working trip, a TASS correspondent reported.

The head of state last visited the northwest Russian region in July 2023 when he inspected a Novatek facility that builds major offshore infrastructure and chaired a meeting to discuss developing residential areas in Russia’s Arctic zone.

Among other natural resources, the Murmansk Region holds more than a third of Russia’s lithium reserves.

Russia is ready to implement Arctic projects together with friendly nations, President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the International Arctic Forum, TASS reports.

"The stronger our positions are, the more significant achieved results will be, the more opportunities we will have to launch global international projects in the Arctic region with participation of friendly countries. Probably, Western nations also if they show interest in cooperative efforts. I am confident the time will definitely come for such projects also," the president said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered submarine of the Yasen-M class (Project 885M), a TASS correspondent reported.

This advanced fourth-generation multipurpose nuclear submarine entered service with the Russian Navy on December 27, 2024. It carries all the types of seaborne missile weaponry capable of effectively striking both sea and coastal targets. Its crew has completed the cycle of basic training and is ready for missions at sea.

The nuclear-powered submarine Arkhangelsk was laid down on March 19, 2015. The ceremony of rolling out the sub from the slipway took place on November 29, 2023. The Arkhangelsk became the 141st nuclear-powered submarine constructed for the Russian Navy at the Sevmash Shipyard. A nuclear reactor was physically launched on the submarine on March 17, 2024. The sub started shipbuilders’ sea trials on June 11 and entered into service on December 27. In late January 2025, the submarine arrived at its permanent base of the Northern Fleet.

US rhetoric about Greenland becoming a part of America is not as wild as everyone thinks, as the US has had its eyes on it for centuries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Clearly, the role and importance of the Arctic is growing - not just for Russia, but for the entire world. Unfortunately, geopolitical competition and the struggle for influence in the region has also intensified. Everyone is well aware of US plans to absorb Greenland," Putin told the plenary session of the Arctic - Territory of Dialogue forum. "It would be wrong to assume that this is just some sort of extravagant rhetoric on the part of the new US administration. Nothing of the sort."

In his words, the United States has entertained the idea since the 1760s.

"Back then, the US administration considered the possibility of annexing Greenland and Iceland. But the idea failed to win congressional approval," he said.

He also recalled the 1910 deal between the United States, Germany and Denmark on the exchange of territories. It would have given the US sovereignty over Greenland, but "the deal failed."

"In other words, there were serious US plans with regard to Greenland in the past. As I have just said, these plans are deeply rooted in history," Putin added.

Vladimir Putin said cooperation in the Arctic Region has gotten complicated due to the West’s choice for confrontation with Russia.

"Regrettably, international cooperation in northern latitudes is going through difficult times. Over the past few years, many Western countries have chosen the path of confrontation, severed economic ties with Russia and cut contacts in education and culture. The dialogue on preservation of Arctic ecosystems has ceased," Putin told the plenary session of the Arctic - Territory of Dialogue forum.

Putin went on to say that certain Western politicians and party leaders flaunt their green agenda and environmental concerns, but "do quite the opposite in reality."

The president recalled that the Arctic Council was established for environmental protection, as well as disaster prevention and response.

"But this mechanism has also deteriorated by now. Russia has not rejected this format of cooperation, it was the choice of our Western partners," he said. "We will work with those who want it.".

Moscow stands for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict on the condition that its root causes are removed, Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with the servicemen of the Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered submarine of the Yasen-M class (Project 885M).

"We are for resolving all these issues by peaceful means," he emphasized. "Yet with removing the original causes that triggered the current situation," Putin added.

The Russian leader described the conflict as complex and demanding a "careful approach.".

Not only the US but other countries may also assist Russia in the settlement of the Ukraine conflict, Vladimir Putin said. "This is not only the United States but also the People's Republic of China, India, Brazil, South Africa, all BRICS countries," the Russian leader said. "And many others, for example, including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with which we have a treaty signed," he added.

Moscow is ready to work on the Ukrainian settlement with Europe as well but will not make any mistakes excessively trusting the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"We are also ready to work with Europe, it is just that they are acting inconsistently, constantly trying to fool us," the Russian leader said.

"But it’s ok, we have gotten used to it already. I hope, we will make no mistakes based on excessive trust to our so-called partners," he concluded.

The Russian Armed Forces will completely defeat Ukrainian troops, Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with the servicemen of the Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered submarine of the Yasen-M class (Project 885M).

"Just recently, I said that we will push through. There are grounds to think that we will finish them off," the Russian leader said.

The Russian side proposed peaceful options of settling the Ukraine conflict back in 2022, Vladimir Putin said.

"When the armed conflict went into a heated phase in 2022, we were still proposing to resolve all issues peacefully," the Russian leader said.

He also reiterated that during talks, Russia had also achieved certain agreements with Ukraine which were later discarded by the Kiev regime.

The international practice presumes the possibility of introducing external governance, paving the way to legitimate talks on the settlement of the Ukraine conflict, Vladimir Putin said.

He reiterated that such precedents under the auspices of the UN existed in East Timor, New Guinea and parts of former Yugoslavia. "Such practice does exist and, technically, it is possible to discuss the possibility of introducing interim governance in Ukraine under the UN auspices with the United States, with European countries, naturally, with our partners and friends," the Russian leader noted.

"In order to hold a democratic election there, in order to bring in a competent government trusted by people. And then hold talks with it about a peace treaty and sign legitimate documents which would be recognized worldwide and be reliable and stable," Putin explained.

The influence of nationalists is one of Ukraine’s problems, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"There is a problem there which is only mentioned fleetingly," he said, pointing out that "nationalists, people with Neo-Nazi opinions" have clout in Ukraine.

Combat in Ukraine started following a coup d’etat and was not initiated by Moscow, Vladimir Putin said.

"We were not the authors and initiators of this combat. It began after the 2014 coup d’etat in Ukraine supported by Western countries. And following this, combat in Ukraine’s southeast began," he noted.

Putin emphasized that for eight years, Russia has been trying to settle the Ukrainian issue peacefully.

Russian forces continue to liberate territories in Donbass and Novorossiya, Vladimir Putin said.

According to the Russian leader, "along the entire line of engagement, the strategic initiative is fully with the Russian Armed Forces."

"The Lugansk People’s Republic has been 99% liberated, while over 70% have been liberated in the Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Our forces, our guys, are advancing, liberating one territory after another, one location after another. On a daily basis," Putin emphasized, TASS reports.

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