Russian President Vladimir Putin took questions from journalists at a press conference held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek. The president addressed topics including the military campaign in Ukraine, the SCO's function, diplomatic communications with various nations, and bilateral ties.

Putin described the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as among the world's foremost regional bodies, with membership spanning approximately half the planet. The territory covered by member states holds vast natural resource deposits and considerable logistical demands, while the organisation should grow at a measured pace to avoid becoming unwieldy, he stated. Putin indicated that decisions within the SCO are reached through collective agreement among member states, with no party imposing its will upon another.

The president noted that intelligence agency liaisons are consistently kept active, adding that direct communication between the heads of those agencies is also ongoing. Putin indicated that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be received in Moscow at any time, describing both men as straightforward and purposeful in their approach to negotiations. He added that both individuals maintain a close relationship with President Donald Trump, hold his confidence, and approach their responsibilities with a sense of purpose.

Putin acknowledged that predicting the timeline of hostilities remains uncertain, describing armed conflict as an inherently unpredictable undertaking, while stating that forces have been accelerating their territorial gains along the conflict front. Putin stated that his troops were advancing toward the edges of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkovka, notwithstanding ongoing drone activity in the area.

Personnel from Battlegroup South continued to push forward, breaching fortified positions and engineered obstacles while contending with aerial drone surveillance along the route. Battlegroup North is reported to be establishing a buffer zone along the frontier in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, with approximately 12 kilometres remaining before reaching the city of Sumy, according to the statement. Battlegroup Center is pushing forward along multiple axes, with urban combat under way in Dobropolye, which Putin characterised as a heavily fortified supply hub.

Putin claimed that as many as 2,000 soldiers had been surrounded in the Kharkiv region, with the alleged encirclement covering an area of 460 square kilometres across 27 localities. Neutralising the target would, according to Putin, allow the front line to be pushed back by a minimum of 20 kilometres from the frontier zone in the Belgorod region. Operations in the Zaporozhye region are continuing, with military units advancing toward Zaporozhye, while Russian forces have reportedly encircled a substantial Ukrainian contingent along the eastern bank of the Krasny Oskol Reservoir.

Putin stated that operations to seize territory in the Donetsk region were on schedule, with Russian forces having captured approximately 270 square kilometres and 15 settlements there during August. He also noted that Russian forces had seized Svyatohorsk, while stating that battlefield updates reached him through multiple channels, yielding what he described as a balanced overall picture. Armed conflict invariably produces casualties and hardship and poses mounting obstacles in an era of accelerating technological advancement, the president observed.

Putin stated that attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure, port installations, and related facilities have been ongoing. He directed the military to ready and carry out attacks on Ukraine's power and energy grid. Putin stated that any military installations on Ukrainian soil are considered valid targets for his country's armed forces, adding that such sites are being struck and will continue to face a military response.

Putin stated that military installations in Ukraine, whether operated by Britain or other nations, constitute valid targets, and characterised threats directed at civilian aircraft as an attempt at state-sponsored terrorism, adding that his government does not engage in negotiations with those it regards as terrorists. One party has characterised that statement as an appeal for state-sponsored violence, while the other has repeatedly sought to resume dialogue through direct meetings. Putin stated that Ukrainian leadership figures are not targeted in strikes because they would be needed as negotiating partners in any potential peace process.

Putin indicated that diplomats may be required if all parties demonstrate a genuine willingness to address outstanding disputes through dialogue rather than measures aimed at weakening the opposing side's economy or achieving a geopolitical advantage. Mediators would likely be required at that stage, while the statement has been characterised by one party as an appeal to violence, though one that falls short of an outright call for armed action. Russia has stated it would identify appropriate measures in response to any actions targeting civilian aviation.

Talks remain largely stalled at present, though Putin indicated a response to any potential adverse developments would be forthcoming, and the parties involved have expressed a preference for avoiding a prolonged deadlock. Putin stated that no resistance exists to the prospect of fresh momentum being injected into the stalled talks. Expertise from specialists, military figures, and diplomats would likely be required in that area, Putin said, while adding that no proposal to freeze the conflict had been raised in his discussions with Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The topic was not raised during that exchange, despite Putin having put forward the proposal openly. Russia's stated position is that it seeks a complete resolution to the conflict, aiming for durable peace across Ukraine and Europe rather than a temporary halt to hostilities. Putin stated that no undue pressure was being placed on Russia to end the conflict.

Putin stated that drone warfare had become the foremost battlefield challenge, though one the country was managing. Drone technology across all domains — underwater, maritime, ground-based, and aerial — has become a pressing operational concern that Russia is actively working to address. Drone strikes were launched against Moscow and St. Petersburg on the night of 1 September, with petroleum refining facilities among the reported targets. Numerous unmanned aerial vehicles were reported to have penetrated air defence systems over both cities, with three petroleum processing facilities among the infrastructure targets struck.

Putin claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz lacked public support in Germany, and further alleged that Merz prioritised outside interests over those of his own country. Recent measures taken by German authorities toward Russia appear, according to Putin, to stem primarily from the country's internal political circumstances rather than from external considerations. Putin asserted that the chancellor faced internal political pressures, that the German economy was being poorly managed, and that companies were closing as living standards fell.

He asserted that Russia remained willing to provide natural gas to Europe, including Germany, and that the decision to proceed rested entirely with the receiving nations, who had so far chosen not to act. Germany's recent policy measures toward Russia, taken in response to a reported drone incident at Leipzig Airport, have drawn scrutiny over whether they align with the country's broader national interests.

The Karabakh dispute has emerged as a defining element shaping the current state of relations between Russia and Armenia, with its roots tracing back to longstanding tensions in the region. Following the signing of an agreement in Prague, Armenia's prime minister formally acknowledged Karabakh as territory belonging to Azerbaijan, after which the country's stance on the matter took on what Putin described as an ambiguous, two-sided character. Putin said that Armenia could not hold membership in both the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union at the same time, regardless of the longstanding ties between the two countries.

Ties between Armenia and Russia have long historical foundations, yet simultaneous membership in two separate organisations has been described as incompatible. According to Putin, membership in the EAEU brings Armenia advantages such as reduced energy costs, and both nations have committed to maintaining constructive bilateral communication going forward. Putin indicated that Russian forces would leave Gyumri, where a Russian military base is stationed, if Armenia determines that the installation is no longer needed.

Russia has stated it will not force its presence on any party, but indicated a willingness to remain and provide military cooperation if Armenian authorities choose to request certain weapons systems. Separately, former United States marine Robert Gilman, who had been serving a conviction in Russia, was released on health grounds. A detainee holding US citizenship was transferred to American territory on medical and humanitarian grounds. The individual reportedly struggles with alcohol dependency and behavioural difficulties, alongside ongoing health concerns, and has been advised to return home to receive medical attention.

According to Moscow, the other parties to the grain agreement did not honour their commitments by the stipulated deadlines, and certain provisions beneficial to Russia were meant to be addressed as part of the arrangement. Data from the grain agreement showed that approximately 0.2 percent of Ukraine's food exports reached developing nations, with the bulk of shipments directed toward European markets. The agreement rested on the premise that nations facing food shortages required access to grain supplies, and that disruption to those shipments could lead to a humanitarian crisis affecting populations across lower-income countries. Approximately 0.2 percent of Ukrainian grain exports reached African developing nations, with the remainder distributed to European countries at market prices.

Putin asserted that Moscow bore no responsibility for the breakdown in bilateral ties with Tokyo, placing the blame on the Japanese side, and contended that his country had consistently approached the relationship with considerable care. The strain in Russian-Japanese ties has been attributed by Putin to decisions made by Tokyo's administration. Putin added that while Tokyo's stance on his visit to the Kuril Islands came as no surprise, he found its broader disposition toward Moscow to be unexpected. Their stance on the Kurils visit was broadly anticipated, Putin said, whereas their broader attitude toward Russia has drawn more scrutiny.