Kremlin says Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas is essential for peace talks.
On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said Russia will continue developing its nuclear capabilities in order to overcome Western defense shields.
“Without a doubt, we will continue modernizing and developing our strategic nuclear forces, creating missile systems with greater combat power capable of overcoming all current and future missile defense systems,” he said.
Putin inspected the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT), a leading institution founded in 1946 that designs intercontinental ballistic missiles. He awarded the Order of Hero of Russia to MITT chief designer Yuri Solomonov and granted another class of honors to the institute’s staff.
The Russian leader emphasized that ballistic missile systems carrying conventional warheads are being used “effectively” as part of the special military operation in Ukraine.
He highlighted that workers at the institute have created a range of systems that have greatly contributed to strengthening national security. MITT has designed, among others, the land-based Topol missiles and the sea-based Bulava missiles, which are launched from Borei-class nuclear submarines.
On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that only the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas could create conditions for ending the conflict and beginning negotiations with the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“In order to achieve a ceasefire and open the path for full-fledged peace negotiations … Zelenskyy must order the Ukrainian armed forces to cease fire and leave the territory of Donbas, the territory of the Russian regions,” he said, adding that negotiations will be “very difficult” and will contain “a large number of important details.”
To justify the continuation of military actions, Zelenskyy has argued that the Ukrainian Constitution prevents him from making territorial concessions and has demanded security guarantees from NATO countries.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin already lowered expectations for a quick end to the war in Ukraine while clarifying comments Russian President Vladimir Putin made on May 9, when he said that “this matter is approaching its end,” although he did not specify what he meant by that phrase.
“The president stated that Russia remains open to dialogue … the work accumulated in the peace process allows us to state that it is indeed approaching its conclusion. But in this context, we cannot speak about anything concrete at this moment,” Peskov explained.
Russia and Ukraine are awaiting the arrival of U.S. mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to resume peace negotiations that have been stalled since Feb. 28, when the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
0 Comentarios