Russia's current military tactics in Ukraine are sufficient, and more reservists will not be called in. President Vladimir Putin announced this in a speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which his regime held in St. Petersburg this week.
Ukraine's new use of weapons from the West on Russian territory is not currently a reason to respond with nuclear weapons, Putin also indicated according to the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Moscow "reserves the right" to arm the enemies of the West, as a response to some NATO countries allowing Ukraine to use its weapons against targets within Russia, he added.
Putin has repeatedly threatened with nuclear weapons since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to ISW, Putin believes that a Russian victory in the war is largely dependent on whether the West stops supporting Ukraine.
Putin devoted a large part of the speech to the economic situation in Russia, which he tried to interpret optimistically. It is likely that Putin is preparing Russians for a long war at the expense of living standards, ISW estimates.
