Russian forces drive on Kyiv; Ukraine says ready for talks with Russia on neutral status; Will return to negotiations after Ukraine’s surrender: Lavrov
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow the government whose leaders he described as “terrorists” and “a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis”.
He also accused “Ukrainian nationalists” of deploying heavy weapons in residential areas of major cities to provoke the Russian military.
Addressing the Ukrainian military in a televised address, he urged them to “take power in your own hands.”
“It seems like it will be easier for us to agree with you than this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis,” he said, referring to leadership in Kyiv led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish.
Further Vladimir Putin was ready to send a delegation to Minsk for negotiations with the representatives of Ukraine after he held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who conveyed China’s support to Moscow in its efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis via dialogue.
According to a statement on the Chinese foreign ministry’s website, Xi called for all sides to abandon a Cold War mentality, respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Friday Ukraine wants peace and is ready for talks with Russia, including on neutral status regarding the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
“If talks are possible, they should be held. If in Moscow they say they want to hold talks, including on neutral status, we are not afraid of this,” he said via a text message.
“We can talk about that as well.” “Our readiness for dialogue is part of our persistent pursuit of peace.” Ukraine currently is not part of Nato or the European Union, though it wants to join both, anathema to its former overlord Moscow.
Meanwhile, Russian forces disabled 118 elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure and neutralised more than 80 military vehicles over the past day, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday.
The elements disabled include 11 military airfields, 13 control points, and communication centres, 14 S-300 and Osa missile systems, and 36 radar stations, the ministry said in a statement. — Anadolu Agency/Reuters
