In a conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Mr. Putin said the attacks on Kiev’s electrical facilities were part of the “demilitarization” of Ukraine – one of the goals he has set. when the conflict broke out in February 2022. In addition, Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries in various Russian regions in recent weeks have forced Moscow to respond.
“The attacks on Kiev energy facilities are part of the goal of demilitarizing Ukraine, and at the same time responding to Ukraine’s previous attacks on Russia,” Mr. Putin said, emphasizing the attacks. This attack will “directly affect Ukraine’s military-industrial complex”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters.
President Putin also added that Russia refrained from carrying out such attacks in winter “for humanitarian reasons”, ensuring that Ukrainians could use electricity for heating in weather conditions that became cold. hard.
Putin once again rejected any predictions by Ukraine’s Western allies that Russia plans to attack any European country other than Ukraine.
“This is ridiculous. As we have said, Ukraine’s Western allies need to explain and justify spending during the conflict,” Putin said.
President Putin also opposes the idea of holding peace negotiations that are “biased against Ukraine”. That is also the reason why the Russian President refused to participate in the peace conference on Ukraine that will be held by Switzerland next June.
Zelensky and his Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd discussed preparations for the summit and agreed to “continue efforts to engage as many countries as possible,” the Ukrainian President’s Office said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the goal of peace negotiations is to call on Russia to withdraw its troops, restore Ukraine’s 1991 post-Soviet borders and establish a mechanism to hold Russia responsible for its actions. mine. As expected, there will be about 100 countries participating in this conference.
However, both Mr. Putin and Mr. Lukashenko agreed that restarting negotiation efforts should follow the failed talks in Türkiye in 2022.