Russian President Vladimir Putin said proposals to end the war in Ukraine remain under consideration, but Moscow will reassess the prospects for negotiations following recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
Speaking to reporters in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia had been prepared to resume contacts with Kyiv after elections to the State Duma. He said large-scale attacks on Moscow and strikes on polling stations had changed the situation.
Putin said Ukraine should “feel the response” and warned that Russian retaliatory strikes would continue. He did not rule out diplomacy, saying decisions on possible talks would be based on what Moscow considers Russia’s interests.
Claims From Both Sides
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian oil facilities and other infrastructure in recent months, describing them as a response to continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has also said it supports direct negotiations.
Russian officials said a major Ukrainian drone attack during the final day of parliamentary voting targeted Moscow and other regions. The full scale of the attacks on polling sites has not been independently verified. Reuters reported that the ruling United Russia party was on course to win the wartime election after drones struck Moscow.
Separately, Russian attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities continued Friday. Reuters reported seven deaths in the Ukrainian capital. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Putin’s remarks leave a diplomatic opening but tie any next step to developments on the battlefield. Moscow has not formally withdrawn its proposals, while signaling that its immediate priority is retaliation for the latest attacks.
Related source: Reuters on the Moscow-region drone attacks.