Speaking to the Turkish President, Putin highlighted the destructive strategy of the Kiev regime: “It has counted on an intensification of hostilities with the support of its sponsors”
ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFP
THE Russia not content with the West handing over more arms Ukraine. This Monday, the 16th, the Russian President, Wladimir Putin, criticized these acts and promised to burn the tanks that western countries, especially Great Britain and Poland, intend to hand over. On Saturday, the British announced that they would not supply Challenger 2 armored vehicles to Kyiv, becoming the first country to send this type of heavy material to Ukraine. “The tanks are and will be burned,” Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on a daily telephone press conference. Peskov reiterated that Westerners are using Ukraine to “achieve antiRussian goals” and that the Kremlin remains committed to achieving “the objectives of the military special operation,” a phrase used to refer to the offensive launched on February 24 last year against the neighboring country.
The Russian President and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Monday. According to the Kremlin, during the conversation Putin “highlighted the destructive strategy of the Kiev regime, which, with the support of its Western sponsors, who are increasing supplies of arms and military equipment, has been betting on an intensification of hostilities.” The two leaders also addressed the exchange of prisoners, “especially wounded,” between Russia and Ukraine. For its part, in a statement, the Turkish presidency said that Erdogan reiterated that his country “stands ready to facilitate the establishment of a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine and to serve as a mediator.”
Attack in Dnipro with at least 40 dead │Vitalii Matokha / AFP
This criticism from Putin comes a day after the attack in Dnipro that killed at least 40 people. That number could get worse, however, as the whereabouts of 34 people are unknown. There are now 75 injured. Although Russia has been identified as the perpetrator of the attack, it denied involvement in the bombing this Sunday. The Russians stuck to their policy, and the Kremlin denied responsibility for the attack, blaming the Ukrainians in part. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke of a “tragedy” and pointed to the possibility that a Ukrainian antiaircraft missile had landed on the building. Rescue operations continue to try to find survivors in the stillsmoldering mountain of rubble. Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said on Monday the attack constituted a “war crime”.