Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he is amenable to talks with US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict in Ukraine. However, he has stated that the issue of negotiations with Ukraine is complicated by the fact that Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has signed a decree prohibiting him from speaking with Mr. Putin, reports RTE.
It would be beneficial for the two of them to meet, the Russian president said, adding that he was willing to discuss the Ukraine war and energy costs with Mr. Trump.
The US president has stated his intention to stop the war in Ukraine, which has lasted for over three years, as soon as possible, reports RTE.
Mr. Putin characterised his American counterpart as astute and practical, threatening to impose further sanctions and tariffs on Russia this week if it did not engage in peace talks.
He stated that he didn’t think the US president would decide on sanctions that would have a positive impact on the US economy, reports RTE.
“Therefore, most likely, it would be better for us to meet, based on the realities of today, to talk calmly on all those areas that are of interest to both the United States and Russia. We are ready. But, I repeat, this primarily, of course, depends on the decisions and choices of the current American administration,” he said.
Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, claimed he did not observe any objective indications that the West or Ukraine were prepared for peace negotiations, reports RTE.
“On the contrary, Western military supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces are continuing, ultimatums to Russia are being worked out, there is a (Ukrainian) legal ban on negotiations, and the issue of the legitimacy of the Ukrainian authorities is not being resolved,” Mr Lavrov said, reports RTE.
It comes after Ukraine claimed to have launched a massive drone strike against a Russian oil refinery and a microchip manufacturer, setting fire to the refinery’s production facilities as well as an oil pumping station.
Four industry sources told Reuters that one of Russia’s oldest refineries was hit overnight in the city of Ryazan, southeast of Moscow, despite Russia’s claims hours earlier that its military had resisted a midnight drone strike, reports RTE.
According to the sources, the attack destroyed a railway loading rack, a hydrotreater unit that removes impurities from refined goods, and the refinery’s oil storage was set on fire.
Social media users shared video footage of smoke and flames devouring a Ryazan oil refinery, with people reportedly fleeing in fear for their lives. Reuters was able to confirm the video’s location, but not its time of capture, reports RTE.
As the two sides attempt to fortify their positions before any peace negotiations begin after Mr. Trump’s return to the White House, the nighttime attacks, if verified, highlight Ukraine’s capacity to strike targets deep into Russia.
The drone strike throughout the night seems to be one of the largest to hit Kyiv during the conflict.
In an attack that encompassed 121 drones and targeted 13 locations, including Moscow, Russia’s Defence Ministry said that 20 Ukrainian drones had targeted the Ryazan region, reports RTE.
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