Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced hopes for additional peace talks with Ukraine – however careworn his troops have been “advancing on your entire entrance line”, regardless of the specter of more durable US sanctions if a ceasefire was not agreed upon.
“All disappointments come up from inflated expectations,” Putin mentioned, in an obvious reference to Trump’s “disappointment” with the Russian chief for not bringing an finish to the warfare.
Talking a day after one of the deadliest Russian air attacks on Kyiv, he repeated his calls for for Ukrainian neutrality and recognition of the occupied territories, which Ukraine views as a capitulation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned he was prepared to satisfy Putin “any time”.
Talking on Friday on the Valaam Monastery on an island in north-western Russia, Putin mentioned he anticipated negotiations with Ukraine to proceed, including that he considered “negotiations positively”.
However in a veiled reference to rising stress from Ukraine and its Western allies to conform to a long-term ceasefire, he mentioned: “As for any disappointments on the a part of anybody, all disappointments come up from inflated expectations.
“Our enemies and ill-wishers… now have one fiery ardour: to cease our advance [on the front line in Ukraine] at any value”.
Ukraine and its allies have repeatedly accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations and rejecting any significant ceasefire, saying Moscow is attempting to grab extra Ukrainian territories.
Three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in latest months ended with none main breakthrough. The 2 sides, nonetheless, agreed to swap a number of hundreds of prisoners of warfare.
Talking shortly after Putin’s feedback, Zelensky questioned whether or not Russia was exhibiting “severe readiness to finish the warfare with dignity and set up a really lasting peace” or whether or not it was “simply an try to purchase extra time for warfare and postpone sanctions”.
In latest weeks, Russia has intensified its lethal drone and missile strikes on Ukraine.
On Thursday, no less than 31 folks – together with 5 kids – have been killed in a Russian aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital.
US President Donald Trump condemned Russia’s actions, threatening new sanctions.
“Russia, I feel it is disgusting what they’re doing,” he advised journalists.
When in July Trump introduced his unique 50-day deadline for Russia to finish the warfare, Putin did not react. When that was decreased to 10-12 days, Putin mentioned nothing.
However on Friday the Kremlin chief left little doubt that he wouldn’t be swayed by a White Home ultimatum.
Trump could declare to be “upset” with Putin for not making peace – however the Russian chief is unrepentant.
His visitor on the Valaam island, Belarus’ authoritarian chief Alexander Lukashenko, was extra direct in his dismissal of Trump’s deadline.
“50 days, 60 days, 10 days. You do not do politics like that,” Lukashenko mentioned.
Expertise exhibits that, for Trump, deadlines are usually not set in stone. However on paper, no less than, his newest deadline expires on 8 August.
If by then Russia hasn’t signed as much as a ceasefire in Ukraine, it should face extra sanctions – so in concept will nations that purchase Russian oil.
However judging by what the Russian state media has been saying in latest days, many in Moscow doubt the White Home will undergo with its menace of more durable sanctions.
What’s extra, from what Putin mentioned on Friday about Russia advancing alongside your entire entrance line in Ukraine, he clearly believes a ceasefire now is just not in Moscow’s finest curiosity.
Ukrainian officers on Friday mentioned Kyiv had obtained “constructive alerts” from the US about potential new sanctions.
A day earlier, senior US diplomat John Kelley advised the UN Safety Council that Russia and Ukraine “should negotiate a ceasefire and sturdy peace”.
“It’s time to make a deal,” he mentioned.
Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff, who’s at present in Israel, would go to Russia subsequent, the US president mentioned earlier this week. He gave no additional particulars.
