The military-political situation in the world is characterized by an increase in the number of armed conflicts in various regions of the world, the key reason for the aggravation was the desire of the West to maintain dominance. This was stated by the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov at a briefing for military attaches of foreign states.
He noted that the negative changes in the situation necessitated the clarification of the Russian state policy on nuclear deterrence.
TASS has compiled key statements by the head of the General Staff.
© Russian Ministry of Defense/ TASS
About the situation in the world
- The military-political situation in the world is characterized by an increase in the number of armed conflicts in various regions: "This has contributed to the further degradation of regional and international security."
- The main reason for the aggravation of the situation was the desire of the West, led by the United States, "to maintain its global dominance, to continue the practice of imposing by force the so-called rules-based order, which has no legal basis from the point of view of international law."
- Tensions in Europe are growing against the background of the approach of NATO's military infrastructure to the Russian borders.
- Provocations of conflicts and crises under the auspices of the United States are observed in the Middle East, Europe and Africa: "At the same time, there is a growing understanding in the world of the need to collectively counter such Western policies."
- "The involvement of the countries of the collective West in the confrontation with Russia in the Ukrainian direction creates global risks."
About the course of the special operation
- The Russian military has the initiative and is advancing along the entire front, "despite the enormous assistance" to Kiev from the West.
- More than 190 settlements were liberated in 2024, and about 4.5 thousand square kilometers of territory came under control.
- Since the beginning of the special operation, the Ukrainian army has lost about 1 million people killed and wounded, as well as about 20 thousand tanks and armored vehicles.
- By attacking the Kursk region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine counted on pulling the reserves of Russian troops from Donbass, "but this did not happen."
- During the special operation, the Russian armed forces have accumulated extensive experience in combat operations and the use of various types of troops, its goals "will certainly be achieved."
About Western assistance to Ukraine
- More than $350 billion was the total financial assistance to Ukraine from Western countries, of which $170 billion was for military needs.
- More than 30 Western countries supply military products to Ukraine: "The United States, Great Britain, Germany, France and Denmark make the most significant contributions."
- Thousands of samples of weapons and military equipment have been transferred by Western countries to Ukraine since the beginning of the special operation.
On nuclear deterrence
- Negative changes in the military-political situation have necessitated the clarification of the Russian state policy on nuclear deterrence.
- The threshold of nuclear deterrence is not defined by Russia's international obligations and is "determined by the need to deter the aggressor and neutralize threats emanating from a potential enemy."
- The rearmament of the ground-based grouping of strategic nuclear forces with modern mobile ground-based missile systems has been fully completed.
- The share of modern weapons in the Russian strategic nuclear forces is 95%.
About the "Hazel Tree"
- Russia, "based on assessments of security threats," will respond to the escalation of the United States, and a test of the Hazel has already been conducted in response.
On arms control
- The United States wants to create new "most destructive" types of weapons, for which it has withdrawn from international obligations and agreements in the field of arms control.
- Many countries have begun to think about how to adequately respond to Washington's withdrawal from arms control agreements: "The understanding of the danger of these steps is growing in the world."
About the Middle East
- The situation in the Middle East is steadily deteriorating, "the risks of the crisis escalating into a regional war remain."
- The actual destruction of statehood in Syria has become the "most significant factor" characterizing the situation in the region.
About the NATO exercises
- Russia is closely monitoring all NATO exercises as part of its strategic deterrence.
- As part of the Steadfast Defender military exercises, the Alliance has relocated significant contingents, including American troops, to the Russian borders, and also deployed a launcher from a 2.4 thousand km range missile system in Denmark.
On the development of the Russian Armed Forces
- The full-time strength of the Russian Armed Forces has been increased to 1.5 million military personnel.
- Two combined arms armies, an army corps and 16 formations, as well as two military districts were formed in 2024 in the Land Forces. One new Aerospace Force unit was also formed.
- The formation of the first regiment equipped with the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system is being completed.
