Putin Says Ukraine Talks Stalled, Warns of Strikes on Energy Grid
Putin says Ukraine negotiations are frozen and warns of large-scale retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine remain effectively frozen, while warning that Moscow is preparing significant retaliatory strikes targeting Ukrainian energy facilities.
Speaking to reporters in the early hours of Wednesday before concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin characterized the current peace process as stalled. He emphasized that any meaningful negotiations must be built on substantive content rather than proceed in what he described as a meaningless mode.
Despite the deadlock, the Russian leader signaled a continued openness to engaging with representatives from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin described presidential envoy Steven Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner as welcome guests in Russia, noting that Moscow works with them willingly because they are trusted by the U.S. President and seek to fill discussions with concrete substance.
Addressing the situation on the front lines, Putin said Russian forces have been instructed to prepare for large-scale strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. "If they strike our facilities, they will face a response," he warned.
Commenting on the recent visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Putin noted that contact between Russian and U.S. intelligence agencies has always existed and has never been interrupted, even during the most difficult periods of the Cold War.