Putin says the world is getting more dangerous but is silent on Maduro and Iran

Putin says the world is getting more dangerous but is silent on Maduro and Iran
Vladimir Putin during a ceremony to receive letters of credence from newly appointed foreign ambassadors at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, 15 January, 2026
Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the international situation is worsening and that the world is becoming more dangerous, while avoiding public comment on several major global developments, including events in Venezuela and Iran.

At a Kremlin ceremony for newly accredited foreign ambassadors, Putin said long-standing conflicts were intensifying and new serious flashpoints were emerging. Delivering his first public remarks on foreign policy this year, he did not explicitly mention the United States or its president.

“The situation on the international stage is increasingly deteriorating, I don’t think anyone would argue with that,” Putin said, adding that global tensions were on the rise.

Despite widespread international attention on the reported removal of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, ongoing protests in Iran, and recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, Putin made no reference to any of these issues.

Instead, he criticised what he described as attempts by powerful states to impose their will on others. “We hear a monologue from those who, by the right of might, consider it permissible to dictate their will, lecture others, and issue orders,” he said, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to what it calls a multipolar world order.

Putin also called for renewed discussion of Russia’s proposals for a new European security architecture, arguing that existing arrangements no longer reflect global realities. He said Moscow would continue to pursue its objectives until broader recognition of the need for change emerges.

Although not mentioned directly, the war in Ukraine loomed in the background of his remarks. The conflict, the deadliest in Europe since the Second World War, has fuelled the sharpest confrontation between Russia and Western countries in decades and remains a central factor shaping Moscow’s relations with the West.

Analysts say Putin’s measured tone and avoidance of specific crises highlight Russia’s cautious diplomatic approach at a time of heightened global uncertainty and sustained geopolitical rivalry.

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