Putin orders civilian facility protection, says Russia open to Ukraine peace talks

Putin orders civilian facility protection, says Russia open to Ukraine peace talks

By Xinhua

MOSCOW -- The Russian government and the Defense Ministry must roll out measures to mitigate the fallout from Ukrainian strikes against Russia's civilian infrastructure, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

During a video conference with members of the government, Putin noted that the frontline situation for Ukraine has deteriorated rapidly. Kyiv has adopted a tactic of launching attacks on Russian civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure in an attempt to create threats against Russia, disrupt energy supplies and affect the tourist season, he said.

Putin added that Ukraine's attacks are designed to secure favorable bargaining leverage for itself in peace talks.

"It is nothing more than a manufactured impression of advantage, for the actual realities on the battlefield paint an entirely different picture," Putin noted.

He stressed that what Kyiv did were "terrorist strikes". "Targeting civilian infrastructure, such as the bus carrying Belarusian children and a student dormitory in Starobelsk, cannot alter or sway developments on the frontlines."

Putin also noted that Russia will stick to its established stance and remains ready to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine based on the agreements reached in Istanbul, and the frameworks discussed in Anchorage, Alaska in the United States.