Overview
- At an expanded Defense Ministry meeting, Vladimir Putin said Russian forces freed more than 300 populated areas in 2025, hold the strategic initiative, and that the campaign restored Russia’s full sovereignty.
- Defense chief Andrey Belousov said the first S‑500 regiment is on combat duty and that the Oreshnik missile system has entered serial production with deployment slated by year’s end.
- Belousov reported expanded force structure and contract recruiting while proposing to channel budget savings into high‑demand weapons, improved servicemember housing, and industry support.
- Politico reported that U.S. and Russian representatives are expected to meet in Miami this weekend to discuss a U.S. peace plan, with the Kremlin previously calling contacts substantive; this remains unconfirmed by officials.
- Politico also detailed a sharp EU rift over using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine and said U.S. officials urged partners to reject a €210 billion confiscation plan, a characterization the White House disputed as pressure.