MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday alternated threats of a brand new Russian offensive to seize extra Ukrainian land with statements in regards to the Kremlin’s readiness for peace talks.
Talking throughout a far-ranging assembly with Russian navy correspondents and warfare bloggers, he made among the most intensive feedback in regards to the battle and his targets since sending the troops into Ukraine greater than 15 months in the past.
Here’s a fast take a look at a few of Putin’s key statements:
UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE
Putin asserted that Ukraine has suffered “catastrophic” losses in its counteroffensive.
He stated Ukrainian troops amassed reserves to launch the “large-scale” operation on June 4, however he claimed that the trouble has failed to attain beneficial properties and that Ukraine has misplaced 10 instances extra troopers than Russia. His claims couldn’t be verified.
Putin declared that Ukraine misplaced 160 battle tanks and over 300 different armored automobiles, whereas Russia solely misplaced 54 tanks. He alleged that the Ukrainian armor losses represented 25% to 30% of the variety of Western armored automobiles equipped to Ukraine.
He famous with a smirk that German-made Leopard battle tanks and U.S.-made Bradley infantry preventing automobiles “are burning very well,” including that leaders in Kyiv should now notice the disastrous penalties of the counteroffensive.
PONDERING NEW LAND GAINS
Putin stated Moscow may reply to alleged Ukrainian incursions and shelling of Russia’s border areas by carving out what he described as a “sanitary zone” to forestall Kyiv from launching such assaults.
The zone would lengthen “to a depth that will forestall it from hanging our territory,” he added.
Requested how deep into Ukraine Russia may go, Putin responded coyly, saying that “all the pieces will rely on potentials that emerge after the so-called counteroffensive.”
“We are going to take a look at the state of affairs and determine on our subsequent strikes,” he stated. “We’ve got varied plans relying on the state of affairs.”
He talked about that Russian troops “already have been close to Kyiv,” a reference to a botched try by the Kremlin to seize the Ukrainian capital within the opening weeks of the battle.
Russian troops retreated from areas round Kyiv and different areas in Ukraine’s northeast in March 2022, and within the fall they rapidly pulled out from broad swaths of the Kharkiv area below the brunt of a swift Ukrainian counteroffensive.
“Ought to we come again there or not?” Putin stated, including cryptically: “Solely I may give a solution.”
THE KAKHOVKA DAM DESTRUCTION
Putin once more blamed Ukraine for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam that brought about a catastrophic flooding, saying that Ukrainian forces had repeatedly shelled the dam with HIMARS rockets after which apparently used explosives to destroy it.
He argued that Russia had no motive to destroy the dam. “We’re actually not keen on that as a result of it has entailed grave penalties for the territories we management,” he stated.
Putin dismissed the Ukrainian argument that Moscow blew up the dam to thwart Kyiv’s counteroffensive, saying that Russia would have been pleased to see Ukraine attempt to launch an assault in that sector due to daunting odds.
PEACE TALKS
The Russian chief stated ending the hostilities in Ukraine depends upon the US. He argued that the preventing would finish instantly if the U.S. and NATO cease offering Ukraine with weapons.
“In the event that they need to see a negotiated resolution to the battle, it’s sufficient for them to cease weapons provides,” he stated.
Putin stated Russian and Ukrainian negotiators drafted a peace settlement in March 2022, however Kyiv spiked the deal below Western stress. He stated Russia remains to be open to resuming talks.
He stated the U.S. desires to see Russia defeated and was pinning its hopes on the Ukrainian counteroffensive. On the identical time, Putin argued that within the U.S. administration “there are various affordable individuals who do not need to take all of it the best way to World Struggle III during which there might be no winners.”
NEW MOBILIZATION
Putin, who ordered the mobilization of 300,000 reservists final fall as Russia confronted a Ukrainian counteroffensive, wouldn’t rule out a brand new wave of mobilization, saying it’ll rely on the evolving navy state of affairs.
He emphasised, nevertheless, that there isn’t a want for it now. Putin famous that the navy has recruited 156,000 volunteer troopers to this point this yr, making it pointless to spherical up extra reservists.
He additionally famous that he sees no want for the introduction of martial legislation that has been steered by some Russian hawks.
Putin identified that Russia’s navy industries have sharply ramped up manufacturing. He stated the output of Russian protection industries has elevated 2.7 instances prior to now yr, and in some key sectors it has elevated tenfold.
GRAIN DEAL
Putin stated Moscow was contemplating ending its participation within the deal to permit exports of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports.
Putin charged that Western international locations have failed to satisfy their guarantees to facilitate exports of Russian agricultural merchandise by eradicating restrictions on transport, insurance coverage and banking operations that have been a part of the settlement brokered by Turkey and the U.N. in July 2022.
He claimed that Ukraine additionally has used the ocean hall created below the deal for business ships to launch drones to assault Russian navy ships.
Putin argued that Russia signed the deal and prolonged it a number of instances for the sake of serving to among the world’s poorest international locations.
If Moscow decides to decide out of the settlement, he famous, it could freely provide these international locations with the identical quantity of grain that will have been delivered by Ukraine below the deal. He stated he deliberate to debate the plans with leaders of a number of African international locations who’re set to go to the Russian capital quickly.
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Observe AP’s protection of the warfare in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine