Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (June 19) that he was willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenky – but only in the “final phase” of any negotiations.
“In order not to sit there and endlessly divide things, but to end it,” Putin told international journalists during a media briefing in St. Petersburg.
The commentary came in the middle of the reinforcement of Russian strikes about Ukrainian cities and growing global fears that diplomatic efforts are losing dynamics. Putin’s wider tone, however, remained defiant and questioned the sincerity of any peace prelude.
They claim “military goals” despite civil deaths
Putin reiterated that Russian forces focused on attacks on the Ukrainian defense infrastructure.
“The strikes were carried out against the military industry, not the residential neighborhood,” he said.
The statement comes only a few days after the missile strike collapsed a residential building in the district of Kiev Solomianskyi and killed 23 people.
Warning to Germany and West
Putin also warned Germany against delivering Taurus missiles with a long reach to Ukraine and stated that he would risk Berlin to pull into direct confrontation with Moscow.
“Our units progress through a number of contacts,” he said. “If (Ukraine) fail to agree (according to Russia’s conditions), the situation could change to the worse.”
Putin praises Trump, challenges the green legitimacy
Putin gave off the previous statement and questioned the legitimacy of the Zelena President. He also supported Donald Trump’s approach to conflict and said:
“If Trump was president, the conflict might not explode.”
Zeletsky urge global pressure on Russia after the deadliest attack on Kyiv
The devastating Russian missile strike in an apartment in Kiev, which killed 28 people and injured 142, caused renewed calls of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zlensky to increase the international community pressure on Moscow.
The strike, which occurred early on Tuesday, hit more places all over the city of Ukraine, while the deadliest damage was concentrated in the district of Solomianskyi, where the missile collapsed nine -storey residential building and killed 23 people in this place.
“This attack is a reminder of the world that Russia rejects a ceasefire and will be killed,” Zlenskyy said during a visit to the debris on Thursday, where the highest officials joined him, including the presidential chief of Andria Yermak and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Russia is launching Air Barrage market
The strike was part of a wider wave of air attacks. On Wednesday, Russia was launched in Ukraine by 104 Shahed and Decoy Drones. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 88 was captured, stuck or disappeared from the radar, while others have achieved their goals.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, Russia has launched more than 440 drones and 32 missiles in what the president called “one of the greatest bombing of war”. The attack amazed the Ukrainian air defense and caused widespread destruction and victims.
The head of the Military Administration Kyiv Tymur Tkochenko confirmed the tax on Thursday and in 2025 called it the deadliest attack of the capital.
“Manipulation,” says Ukraine
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andria Sybiha sharply responded to Russian demands on the openness of peace and called them “manipulations”. In the paper on X, Sybiha wrote: “It was exactly 100 days since Ukraine unconditionally accepted the American peace proposal to complete fire … 100 days Russia growing terror against Ukraine rather than ending.”
He added: “Ukraine is still committed to peace. Unfortunately, Russia continues to choose war and ignores us to end killing.”
(Tagstotranslate) Russian President Vladimir Putin
