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Russian forces have bombarded scores of cities in Ukraine on Christmas Day as President Vladimir Putin says he’s open to negotiations – a stance Washington has dismissed as posturing.
Russia on Sunday launched greater than 10 rocket assaults on the Kupiansk district within the Kharkiv area, shelled greater than 25 cities alongside the Kupiansk-Lyman frontline and hit virtually 20 cities in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s prime navy command stated.
Mr Putin’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine – which Moscow calls a “particular operation” – has triggered the deadliest European battle since World Battle II and the largest confrontation between Moscow and the West for the reason that 1962 Cuban Missile Disaster.
Regardless of Mr Putin’s newest supply to barter, there is no such thing as a finish in sight to the 10-month battle.
“We’re prepared to barter with everybody concerned about acceptable options however that’s as much as them – we aren’t those refusing to barter, they’re,” Mr Putin advised Rossiya 1 state tv in an interview broadcast on Sunday.
An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Mr Putin wanted to return to actuality and acknowledge it was Russia that didn’t need talks.
“Russia single-handedly attacked Ukraine and is killing residents,” the adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted.
“Russia would not need negotiations however tries to keep away from duty.”
Russian assaults on energy stations have left hundreds of thousands with out electrical energy and Mr Zelensky stated Moscow would purpose to make the ultimate few days of 2022 darkish and troublesome.
“Russia has misplaced every thing it may this yr,” he stated in a night video handle on Christmas Day.
“I do know darkness is not going to forestall us from main the occupiers to new defeats however we have now to be prepared for any situation.”
Ukraine historically celebrates Christmas Day on January 7, the identical day as Russia, reasonably than December 25.
Nonetheless, some Orthodox Ukrainians determined to have a good time the vacation on December 25 this yr. Ukrainian officers, together with Mr. Zelensky and the prime minister issued Christmas needs on Sunday.
The Kremlin says it’s going to battle till all its territorial goals are achieved, whereas Kyiv says it is not going to relaxation till each Russian soldier is ejected from the nation.
Requested if the geopolitical battle with the West was approaching a harmful stage, Mr Putin on Sunday stated: “I do not suppose it is so harmful.”
Kyiv and the West say Mr Putin has no justification for what they solid as an imperial-style conflict of occupation.
A senior Belarusian protection ministry official stated on Sunday Russian-supplied Iskander tactical missile techniques, able to carrying nuclear warheads, and S-400 air protection techniques had been deployed to Belarus and ready to carry out their meant duties.
Russian forces used Belarus as a launch pad for his or her abortive assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in February, and there was a rising flurry of Russian and Belarusian navy exercise in latest months.
Ukrainian and Russian media reported blasts have been heard at Russia’s Engels air base close to the town of Saratov on Monday, a whole bunch of kilometers from the Ukrainian frontlines.
There was no speedy official affirmation and Reuters was not in a position to independently confirm the studies.
Ukraine has by no means publicly claimed duty for assaults inside Russia however has stated such incidents are “karma” for Russia’s invasion.
-AAP
