Russian President Vladimir Putin canceled the Navy Day parade due to concerns about potential Ukrainian strikes. Instead, he held a televised meeting with Navy personnel, where he expressed his belief that Ukraine would eventually disintegrate and reiterated claims about Ukraine's territorial integrity, stating that Russia was the only guarantor of it. He referred to western regions of Ukraine as 'a gift from Stalin' and suggested they would return to Hungary, Romania, and Poland over time. Putin acknowledged that this return would not happen immediately, estimating it could take 'a year, or two, or maybe even ten or fifteen.'
The cancellation of the parade and Putin's remarks come amid growing domestic backlash against the war, including a Ukrainian drone campaign targeting Russian oil infrastructure, which has led to fuel shortages and frustration among supporters of the Kremlin. In a separate address, Putin asserted that Russia's naval forces were capable of fulfilling their tasks and emphasized the navy's ongoing development, including nuclear capabilities.
Putin's comments followed a public setback during a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who indicated uncertainty about the nature of the conflict. The situation in Russia is further complicated by public frustration over Ukrainian strikes affecting local businesses, with some business owners reporting significant financial losses. Putin attempted to downplay the growing public outrage, cautioning against relying on information from online communities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that individuals close to Putin had reached out to Kyiv, blaming him for the war and its consequences.