Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged this Friday that “an agreement must be reached” to end the conflict in Ukraine. But he accused the West of exploiting Ukrainians as “cannon fodder”, pointing the finger in particular at Germany and France, which have stockpiled the country with weapons while negotiating ceasefire deals between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in the east.
“The question of trust arises. Trust is almost zero. However, in the end, we have to reach an agreement. I have said many times that we are ready and open to such agreements”, Putin, who attended the Eurasian Economic Community Leaders’ Summit, said at a press conference in Kyrgyzstan’s capital. Earlier in the day, he admitted that the “special military operation” could be a “long-term” operation.
Responding to an interview with the former German chancellor, the Russian president accused Berlin and Paris of treason. Angela Merkel told Die Zeit newspaper that the 2014 Minsk accords were an “attempt to give Ukraine time” and that Kiev had seized the opportunity to “become stronger”. Putin said he was “disappointed” because he had always trusted Berlin to be honest, and now questioned who he could trust.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that the fighting in Ukraine risks spiraling out of control and that the conflict could turn into a global war between Russia and NATO. 🇧🇷If things go wrong, they can go badly wrong,” he told Norwegian television channel NRK, adding that the West was working “every day” to prevent that.
On the ground, Russian forces continue their bombardment, hitting “the entire front line” in the Donetsk region. In a video shared on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “the situation is very difficult in key areas of the Donbass,” adding that “occupiers destroyed Bagmut” and “the Russian army turned into charred ruins” in another city.
The Russian dissident is guilty
A Moscow court on Friday sentenced adversary Ilya Yashim to eight-and-a-half years in prison for criticizing the military offensive in Ukraine and spreading “misinformation” about the Russian military. Yashim, 39, was arrested in July after condemning the “killing of civilians” in the city of Bucha during a YouTube livestream.
Another detained Russian dissident, Alexei Navalny, criticized the “disgraceful verdict”, saying in a message his group posted on Twitter that it “will not silence Ilya and intimidate honest people in Russia”. SS
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”