Meeting with Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov 2022-02-27 16:05:00 The Kremlin, Moscow Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces – First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, You see that Western countries are not only taking unfriendly economic actions against our country, I mean the illegitimate sanctions of which everyone is well aware, but top officials of the leading NATO countries are indulging in aggressive statements directed at our country. Therefore, I order the Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put Russian Army’s deterrence forces on high combat alert. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu: Yes, sir. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov: Yes, sir. <…>