Putin Claims Ukrainian Attacks Have Not Changed Situation on Battlefield
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Ukraine and the Western countries supporting Kyiv have gained no advantage in confronting Russia. He asserted that Ukraine and its backers will never be able to defeat Moscow.
In an interview with Vesti on Saturday (22/8), Putin said Kyiv had opened a Pandora’s box after launching attacks on Russian civilian targets. According to him, these attacks were subsequently retaliated against by Moscow.
Putin described the efforts of Kyiv and Western leaders to defeat Russia within 40 days as another adventure. He accused Ukraine and Western countries of having long desired Russia’s destruction and of repeatedly expressing that wish.
According to Putin, the series of Ukrainian attacks has indeed caused economic damage and loss of life in Russia. However, he claimed these attacks have not changed the situation on the battlefield.
Putin said Russia has intensified strikes against Ukrainian defence industry companies, including a number of targets in Kyiv. According to him, this step is a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian logistics facilities.
“We have begun to respond to the enemy’s actions against our civilian industrial and logistics facilities,” he said, as reported by Anadolu on Sunday (23/8). “The Kyiv regime has set the goal of damaging our economy. What has it done? They themselves opened this Pandora’s box,” he stated.
Putin claimed Russia’s military response to attacks on its logistics facilities is more precisely targeted while causing greater damage.
He also assessed that Ukraine’s economic condition is deteriorating, including the agricultural sector, which he said is dying. Putin also accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt the electoral process in Russia through a series of attacks.
He said the Russian government will strengthen state institutions and take steps to maintain the legitimacy of the government. “I am confident that these attempts at informational and psychological influence on Russian society will also fail,” he said.
The statement was made as Russia and Ukraine remain engaged in a protracted conflict, while cross-border attacks continue to occur.
Regarding the possibility of negotiations, Putin stressed that Russia remains open to dialogue with Ukraine. However, he emphasised that talks must take into account the conditions on the battlefield.
Putin said Moscow has received a number of exotic proposals regarding the format of talks with Ukraine. However, according to him, Russia considers these proposals unacceptable.
This stance indicates that Moscow continues to link the possibility of negotiations with developments in the military situation on the ground. Putin also responded to concerns that Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and agricultural infrastructure could worsen global food supplies.
He rejected this notion. Putin said Russia has sufficient export capacity to prevent shortages in the global market. According to him, Russia’s export capability can help maintain the availability of food commodities on the international market even as attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continue.