Putin in congratulations on Defender of the Fatherland Day promised to arm Russia against the backdrop of “NATO activity”

Russian leader Vladimir Putin congratulated veterans, personnel, civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, all Russian citizens on the holiday. The video message was published on the Kremlin website.

He delved into history, recalling that “the basis of the military history of the thousand-year-old country, its glory and victories has always been patriotism and the unity of the people, the feat of its sons and daughters devoted to the Fatherland.” Putin stressed that Russia will always remember the feat of veterans who “crushed Nazism, saved their country and the whole world from this barbaric, merciless, deadly force.”

Separately, the President touched upon the situation in the world. He stressed that the dangers are fraught with existing challenges, such as the loosening of the arms control system or the military activity of the NATO bloc. Putin noted that Russia calls for building a system of equal and indivisible security, and is always open to direct and honest dialogue. However, the Russian Federation will continue to provide defense capabilities, develop and improve the army and navy, advanced weapons systems, including hypersonic and based on new physical principles, expand the use of advanced digital technologies and elements of artificial intelligence, the president promised.

According to him, in recent years, the military forces of the Russian Federation have become “more mobile, gained new combat experience, the training and coordination of units and formations has increased, weapons that have no equal in the world have been put on combat duty.”