2024-08-17 16:40:36
At the beginning of the week, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement at a meeting with the governors of the regions bordering Ukraine caused considerable commotion. The head of the Kremlin declared that “negotiations with the (Ukrainian) government, which attacks civilians, is pointless”. Since the beginning of the aggressive and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to UN data, more than 11,500 civilians have died.
“Dealing with a government that attacks civilians makes no sense,” Putin said at a meeting with governors | Video: Associated Press
At the mentioned meeting, Putin also stated that the aim of the invasion of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region was to strengthen Kyiv’s position in any future negotiations. “It is now clear why the Kyiv regime rejected our proposals to return to the peace settlement plan. The enemy is following the orders of its Western masters,” he said, among other things.
The Russian president was alluding to the comment of the adviser to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podoljak, who was quoted by the American newspaper Washington Post. He said that “any military actions on Russian territory could improve Ukraine’s position in future negotiations with Russia to end the war,” without directly mentioning the situation in the Kursk region.
“What dealings can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately attack civilians, civilian infrastructure or try to threaten nuclear facilities. What can we even talk about with them,” Putin asked the other governors at the meeting with a serious face.
Ukrainian and foreign media noticed his words. They are in stark contrast to what the Russian army is doing on his orders in the attacked country. Attacks on civilian infrastructure are practically the order of the day, according to the latest UN data, over 11,500 people have died as a result of Russian aggression. Particularly shocking was the July attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv,
Don’t talk about it. Putin cut off the governor of Kursk, who “burnt through” the scope of the operation (full article with video here)
Putin spoke with Governor Alexei Smirnov about the situation in the Kursk Oblast | Video: X/Andrej Geraschenko