Putin's 37-minute shocker for west: Nuclear message, new weapon announcement| Ukraine| USA| NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin fielded media questions in Dushanbe following multiday summits with Central Asian and CIS leaders, touching on Russian-Tajik cooperation, border security, economic ties, education, and growing labor migration programs. Putin emphasized regional integration, highlighting new CIS+ and EAEU formats and the importance of common cultural and linguistic connections across the former Soviet space. Addressing the aftermath of the Azerbaijan plane incident, Putin characterized the crisis as emotional rather than geopolitical and expressed optimism about restoring ties. On global security, Putin welcomed ongoing dialogue with the US on Ukraine and arms control, praising President Trump’s efforts in peace negotiations—from Ukraine to the Middle East—and suggested Trump’s accomplishments could make the Nobel Peace Prize appropriate, though not for him to decide. Putin also affirmed Russia’s willingness to participate in Gaza’s peace process, ridiculed linking the Nobel to weapons shipments, commented on upcoming arms treaty talks with Washington, and clarified Russia’s readiness on strategic deterrence and nuclear tests if provoked.