Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XXII Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Sochi, 2 October 2025) / Q&A Session
After his speech on the emerging polycentric world order and the role Russia can play in making that vision reality, Russian President Vladimir Putin took a number of questions on various topics, not all of which were related to the theme of the 2025 forum. Most questions that deviated from the theme of the polycentric world order were questions concerning current world affairs in which Russia is either directly or indirectly involved, or in which the country may have an interest.
An early question from American-born Iranian political analyst Seyed Mohammad Marandi dealt with what Russia can do to end the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, given that US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal denies any self-determination for the Palestinians and insultingly puts forward former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a leading role in the reconstruction of Gaza. Putin admitted to not knowing the full details of the peace proposal but said Russia was prepared to support the plan only if the proposed international administration’s length of tenure was known in advance and how it would transfer power to a future Palestinian government were also known. He emphasised that the Palestinians themselves would have to support such a plan and that it be in their interests. Ultimately the end goal must be the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Putin was asked a question by another audience member about recent world changes affecting or with the potential to affect Russia. For Putin, the biggest and most astonishing change is the speed with which historical revision concerning World War II and the threat of Nazi Germany to Europe and beyond has occurred, to the extent that Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union under Stalin are now equated with each other, even though both nations had very different and opposed ideologies, and that the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact is being re-interpreted as though it had been a military alliance. The sacrifices made by the Soviets against Nazi domination of Europe and the crimes committed by Germany then have been forgotten, and in many parts of eastern Europe monuments dedicated to the heroism of Soviet soldiers and civilians are being torn down, to be replaced by monuments celebrating those who collaborated with the Nazi regime. The underlying agenda is to demonise Russia before the Western general public, so as to persuade the European public to accept lower standards of living and cuts in social welfare to support increased military spending and a build-up towards conflict and war against Russia in which European elites would profit handsomely.
British journalist / political analyst Anatol Lieven put to Putin the possibility that the West will supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine and start seizing ships carrying Russian cargo in international waters and asked the Russian President how Russia might respond: Putin acknowledged that the Tomahawks are powerful and dangerous weapons, and their use by Ukraine will affect Russian-US relations as the missiles can only be launched by US military personnel – moreover, they will have to be launched from land with ground launchers and such launchers are not likely to be missed by Russian trackers while being transported to Ukraine. In effect, the US would be at war against Russia should Tomahawks be moved to Ukraine. Russia’s response to the use of Tomahawks would be that these missiles will be intercepted and taken down, and the nation will improve its air defences. As for the seizure of ships, Putin noted that this is akin to piracy and such piracy would be dealt with seriously. Putin guessed that talk of seizing Russian ships is part of the overall Western propaganda effort to drum up support among the Western public for a war against Russia to deflect public attention away from domestic issues such as illegal immigration and border control, falling living standards and the erosion of social welfare. A later question from a Saudi audience member on whether the polycentric world can be capable of safeguarding maritime navigation and global energy supplies to prevent another Nordstream-style pipeline explosion
Norwegian political scientist Glenn Diesen referred to Finland and Sweden having joined NATO and how this affects Russia, especially its western borders and in particular the Kaliningrad enclave. Putin noted that joining NATO has not done much positive for either nation’s security – since those nations joined NATO, there seem to be more sightings of Russian drones in northern Europe than previously – and that Russia will act appropriately should tensions escalate between Moscow on the one hand and Helsinki and/or Stockholm on the other. Though on the vague side, Putin’s response was that cooperation within the polycentric world order will help forestall similar acts of piracy and sabotage.
Other questions of a more regional nature, or pertaining to Russia’s relations with its neighbours, were raised and Putin did his best to answer them all. Nowhere in Putin’s Q& A session, or in his earlier speech, was there any mention of attacking Europe, as has been reported in European media – rather, Putin quoted past German chancellor Helmut Kohl in saying that if Europe wants to be an independent global power, it should be allied with Russia. The stand that Putin has taken here, and in past Valdai Discussion Club meetings, is that Russia is ready and willing to work with others, while also determined to stand up for its own interests, in order to help bring about the multipolar future world order.
A video of Putin’s speech and the Q&A session can be viewed at this Youtube link.