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Putin appears to rule out ceasefire, accusing Ukraine of ‘terrorist attacks’ and disrupting peace talks
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Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of “terrorism” and “disrupting” peace talks during a televised government meeting on Monday, appearing to rule out the possibility of a ceasefire or even a high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Putin’s remarks came in response to a series of explosions that allegedly caused bridge collapses in Russia’s western border regions over the weekend, including one in the Bryansk region that derailed a passenger train, killing seven people and injuring dozens of others. Russian authorities claimed Ukraine was behind the incidents, declaring them “terrorist acts.”
Echoing earlier statements from Russian officials, Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out “terrorist attacks” and “deliberately targeting” civilians. Referring to the deadly bridge collapse in Bryansk, Putin said, “This was undoubtedly a terrorist act and the decisions to commit these crimes were made in Ukraine at the political level.”
Background
- Russian authorities blame bridge collapses on ‘terrorists’ working for ‘Kyiv regime’
- At least seven dead after explosions cause two bridges to collapse in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, authorities say
Putin then claimed that Kyiv’s aim was to “disrupt” peace talks with Russia, referring specifically to the round of negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on Monday. “This only confirms our fears that the already illegitimate regime in Kyiv is gradually degenerating into a terrorist organization,” he said.
Referring to Ukraine’s repeated calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, Putin appeared to rule out a potential truce, reiterating claims that Kyiv would use a pause in the fighting to rearm and mobilize more troops.
“In an attempt to intimidate Russia, the Kyiv leadership has resorted to terrorist attacks. And, at the same time, they’re asking to halt military actions for 30 or even 60 days [and] for a meeting at the highest level. But how can such meetings be held under these conditions? What can we talk about? Who negotiates with those who rely on terror, with terrorists? Why reward them by giving them a break from military actions, which will be used to pump the regime with Western weapons, to continue their forced mobilization, and to prepare other terrorist attacks.”
Underscoring that the Ukrainian side had rejected Russia’s proposal of a “truce for two or three days for humanitarian reasons,” Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s government would rather stay in power than end the war.
“This does not surprise us but only convinces us that the current regime in Kyiv has no need for peace. Peace means losing power. And power, for this regime, appears to be more important than peace and the lives of people whom they do not consider people at all.”
Russia and Ukraine exchanged memorandums on a possible ceasefire during the peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. The Russian delegation also proposed a “two or three-day ceasefire” to allow the sides to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. Zelensky later rejected the idea, reiterating Ukraine’s call for a complete ceasefire instead.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, Zelensky called Russia’s peace memo an “ultimatum.” “This is an ultimatum and neither the Ukrainian side nor anyone else will take it seriously,” he said.
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