Kiev regime ‘not interested in peace,’ turning to terror, suffering ‘huge losses’ on battlefield: Key points from Putin’s speech
Ukraine’s leadership is derailing peace process in order to cling to power, according to the Russian president
Kiev’s backers have become “accomplices to terrorists”
Putin said the attacks were the result of decisions made by Ukraine’s top political leadership, calling them “undoubtedly a terrorist act.”
“This only confirms our concern that the already illegitimate regime in Kiev, which once seized power, is gradually turning into a terrorist organization, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices to terrorists,” he said.
The two incidents occurred on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. In Bryansk Region, a bridge collapsed in front of a moving passenger train. In Kursk Region, a freight train derailed when a railway bridge gave way. In total, seven people died and over 120 were injured.
“Under all international norms, such actions are called terrorism,” Putin said.
Ukraine’s battlefield losses
The Russian president accused Kiev and its Western backers of previously aiming to inflict a strategic defeat of Russia on the battlefield. Now, he said, the country’s leadership is shifting tactics amid mounting losses and as Ukrainian forces retreat along the front line.
“Today, amid heavy losses and retreating along the entire line of contact, the Kiev leadership has turned to organizing terrorist acts in an attempt to intimidate Russia,” Putin said.
He questioned the competence of Ukraine’s leadership, under whose orders the Ukrainian armed forces have suffered “senseless and enormous losses” – including during their now-repulsed incursion in Kursk Region – and continue to face defeat on the battlefield.
“What kind of authority can the leaders of a thoroughly rotten and completely corrupt regime possess?” Putin added.
Deliberate strikes to disrupt talks
Putin called Kiev’s railway sabotage an “intentional strike on the [Russian] civilian population.”
He said the “crimes” committed against Russian civilians – including women and children – were timed to disrupt the peace process.
Both attacks came shortly before the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul and amid a surge in Kiev’s drone raids into Russia, which Moscow says are aimed at derailing attempts to reach a settlement in the conflict.
Speaking about Kiev’s apparent attempts to undermine the peace efforts, Putin noted that Ukrainian officials simultaneously requested a ceasefire lasting 30 to 60 days, along with a top-level meeting.
https://www.rt.com/russia/618658-kiev-regime-terrorism-peace-rejection/