Russia wants a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has said, adding that Moscow’s conditions for peace remained unchanged as Kyiv repeated its call for a leaders’ meeting.
Mr Putin has consistently rejected calls to pause his nearly three-and-a-half year assault on Ukraine despite growing pressure from US President Donald Trump, who issued a 10-day ultimatum earlier this week to stop the fighting.
“We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries,” Mr Putin told reporters.
But he added that “the conditions [from the Russian side] certainly remain the same”.
Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.
Ukraine has been pleading with its Western backers to send more weapons for its troops to withstand Moscow’s daily attacks and levy more sanctions on Russia and its trading partners.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for a meeting with Mr Putin to end the conflict, with Kyiv proposing talks by the end of August.
Today, Mr Zelensky repeated that call.
“We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must end this war,” he said on social media.
Ukraine was ready “to meet at the level of leaders at any time”, he added.
Mr Putin, speaking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, also said Moscow had started mass producing Oreshnik – its hypersonic nuclear-capable missile.
Russia used Oreshnik to strike the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine last year before announcing it could deploy the missile in Belarus, its close ally.
“Our specialists, both Belarusian military specialists and Russian specialists, have chosen a place for future positions,” Mr Putin said.
“Work is now underway to prepare these positions. So, most likely, we will close this issue by the end of the year,” he added.
Five children among 31 killed in Russian attack
Mr Zelensky said rescue operations have finished in Kyiv following a Russian strike yesterday and said 31 people were killed and 159 had been wounded.
“Unfortunately, as of now, 31 people are known to have died, including five children. The youngest child was only two years old,” he wrote on social media.
Ukrainian armed forces check the debris of a Russian missile in Kyiv
City authorities declared today a day of mourning.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on X that “the world possesses every instrument required to ensure Russia is brought to justice. What is lacking is not power – but will.”
One person was also killed in a Russian attack early this morning on Zaporizhzhia, in southeast Ukraine, the region’s military administration said on Telegram.
Mr Zelensky urged his allies to bring about “regime change” in Russia, hours after the attack.
The attack on Ukraine’s capital also wounded 159 people
US President Donald Trump criticised Russia’s actions in Ukraine, suggesting that new sanctions against Moscow were coming.
Meanwhile, Germany said it will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the US that Berlin will be first in line to receive the latest systems in return.
Thanks to the US commitment, “Germany can initially support Ukraine with launchers and then with additional Patriot system components,” said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in a statement.
