Meeting the needs of Russian servicemen fighting in Ukraine and strengthening Russia's armed forces are the country's main strategic priorities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
"Today, in the context of rapid changes in the world, our strategic course to strengthen and develop the armed forces remains unchanged," Putin said in a video address on the Kremlin's channel on the Telegram application.
The message was on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia, which falls today and which celebrates the Armed Forces holiday.
Yesterday, Putin met with the Security Council of Russia on Saturday, the Kremlin announced. Putin has received reports from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about his recent trips and asked him to share them with members of the Security Council.
Lavrov was part of the Russian delegation that met with US officials in Riyadh on Tuesday during the first talks between the two countries aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine and following a phone call between Donald Trump and Putin on February 13.