Putin Keeps Ukraine Peace Proposals Open, Vows Retaliation — SkimNews
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- Putin said all settlement proposals for the Ukraine war remain possible but warned Moscow will assess Russia's own interests before deciding its next steps in response to Ukrainian attacks
- Putin accused Ukraine of striking Moscow and Russian polling stations during last week's parliamentary elections, claiming one election official was killed and others injured
- Putin warned Ukraine would face sustained Russian retaliatory strikes, saying Kyiv started provocations 'on every front' and that no escalation tactic would work
- Putin claimed Ukraine renewed calls for talks because of difficulties countering Russia's newer jet-powered drones, which he said fly at higher altitudes and are harder to intercept
- Putin also accused Kyiv of attacking St Petersburg during an international conference in June and on Moscow during the parliamentary elections
- Putin welcomed any 'agreement of a positive nature' between Trump and Xi Jinping, saying his attendance at the upcoming APEC summit in China would depend on developments inside Russia
Why it matters: Putin's dual message — keeping peace proposals open while vowing sustained retaliation — gives Moscow diplomatic cover while attacks continue. Ukraine's strikes on Russian military and energy targets deep inside Russia are the provocations Putin cites, meaning battlefield escalation proceeds regardless of negotiation rhetoric.
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