Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning regarding foreign military presence in Ukraine. He stated that any troops deployed to Ukraine, especially during active hostilities, would be considered legitimate targets by Russia‘s military. This declaration came shortly after several European leaders reiterated their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force for Ukraine, a proposal Russia has consistently rejected.
Putin also dismissed the idea of a peacekeeping force being deployed after a peace agreement, asserting that Russia would uphold any treaty to end the conflict. However, he emphasized the need for security assurances for both Russia and Ukraine. A spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, later clarified that Moscow would require legally binding documents to formalize any such agreements.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advocated for immediate security guarantees, rather than waiting until after the war’s conclusion. He stressed the need for these guarantees to be enacted during the current conflict but declined to provide specific details, citing their sensitive military nature.
The exchange of statements occurred amidst continued military activity. Ukraine‘s air force reported that Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack overnight. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted many of the projectiles, but several residential buildings in Dnipro sustained damage. Additionally, infrastructure in the Chernihiv region was targeted, causing widespread power outages. Russia also reported intercepting a substantial number of Ukrainian drones.
Reports of a fire at a Rosneft oil refinery in Ryazan, Russia, surfaced on social media, though official confirmation remained limited. The regional governor acknowledged drone debris falling on an industrial facility but refrained from providing further details. These attacks follow recent Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure, leading to fuel shortages in some regions. The ongoing conflict continues to escalate tensions between the two nations.
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