The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, stated this Monday that the Ukrainian military counteroffensive launched in the summer had not produced results and assured that the Kiev army had recorded “enormous losses” during these operations in recent months.
“They announced that they intended the defeat of Russia and victory on the battlefield, the strategic defeat of Russia. Hostilities began, the announced counteroffensive, which has continued since June 4. However, there are no results, rather huge losses “Putin noted. He stressed that these losses on the ground by Ukrainian forces are “simply enormous.”
In an interview with state broadcaster China Media Corporation, Putin accused the Ukrainian side of definitively compromising the negotiations that took place in the Turkish city of Istanbul in the spring of 2022.
“We have never opposed the attempt to seek an end to this conflict by peaceful means. We even agreed in Istanbul that we were prepared for this, guaranteeing Russia’s legitimate interests in the field of security,” he said.
“The Ukrainian side drew up a very precise plan to ensure security and we practically agreed with it, but soon after the withdrawal of our troops from the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, the Ukrainian side tore up these agreements. They were even signed by the chief negotiators of the parties, not to the agreement itself, but to a memorandum of these agreements,” Putin said.
In the same statements to the Chinese radio station, the Russian head of state said he was aware of Beijing’s diplomatic initiatives and expressed “gratitude for these suggestions.”
“I think they are very realistic and can be used as a basis for a peace agreement. Unfortunately, the other side has no intention of entering into negotiations. And the president of Ukraine also issued a decree prohibiting holding peace negotiations with us.”, said.
“How can you negotiate if they don’t want to, if they have even taken legislative measures to prohibit it?” he continued, before stressing that “if Ukraine chooses another path, it will have to suspend this decree and express its willingness to negotiate.” negotiate. We are prepared”.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, Chinese diplomacy published a 12-point document with proposals for a political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.
Speaking to the Chinese broadcaster, Putin revealed that Russian troops are engaged in “active defense” and have reinforced their positions along the entire line of contact.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 of last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since the Second World War (1939-1945).
Ukraine’s Western allies have supplied weapons to kyiv and passed successive sanctions packages against Russian interests to try to diminish Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort.
Source: TSF
