Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with US President Donald Trump regarding the war in Ukraine. However, he noted that negotiations with Ukraine are complicated due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decree, which prohibits talks with Mr. Putin.
The Russian leader indicated he was open to dialogues with Mr. Trump about the Ukraine conflict and energy prices, suggesting that a meeting between them would be beneficial.
The US President has voiced his intent to swiftly conclude nearly three years of warfare in Ukraine.
Mr. Putin described his American counterpart as smart and pragmatic, especially in light of Mr. Trump’s recent threats to impose new sanctions and tariffs on Russia if it does not negotiate a resolution to the conflict.
“Thus, it seems more sensible for us to meet, given the current realities, to calmly discuss all matters of mutual interest to the United States and Russia. We are prepared for that. Yet, I reiterate, this fundamentally relies on the decisions and actions of the present American administration,” he stated.
Donald Trump is keen on resolving the war in Ukraine during his tenure.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that there are no apparent signs that Ukraine or the West are inclined for peace negotiations.
“On the contrary, military supplies from the West to the Ukrainian armed forces are ongoing, ultimatums against Russia are being formulated, there’s a legal ban on negotiations in Ukraine, and the legitimacy of the Ukrainian leadership remains unsettled,” Mr. Lavrov remarked.
This development follows Ukraine’s declaration of a successful drone assault on a Russian oil refinery and a microchip factory, which resulted in fires at the refinery’s production facilities and an oil pumping station.
Earlier, Russia stated that its forces had thwarted an overnight drone attack, but four industry sources confirmed to Reuters that one of the nation’s oldest refineries was indeed hit in the city of Ryazan, southeast of Moscow.
The attack ignited oil storage facilities at the refinery and damaged equipment, including a railway loading rack and a hydrotreater unit critical for removing impurities from refined products, according to the sources.
Video clips circulating on social media depicted smoke and flames engulfing the Ryazan oil refinery, with individuals reportedly fleeing in panic. Reuters was able to authenticate the video’s location, though not its timeframe.
If substantiated, the overnight attacks would highlight Ukraine’s capability to target deep within Russia as both sides seek to fortify their positions ahead of potential peace talks following Mr. Trump’s return to the White House.
The overnight drone assault appeared to be one of Kyiv’s most significant operations during the war.
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that 20 Ukrainian drones targeted the Ryazan region as part of an overall attack involving 121 drones across 13 regions, including Moscow.
The Ukrainian military confirmed on Facebook that fires erupted at the damaged refinery’s production facilities and at an oil pumping station, although it did not specify the extent of the damage.
In the aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Brovary, Ukraine, its military also claimed to have targeted the Kremniy El microelectronics plant situated in Russia’s Bryansk region. Kyiv alleged that this facility produces components for Russian air defense missile systems, nuclear-capable missiles, and onboard electronics for combat aircraft.
According to the state TASS news agency, the Kremniy plant announced that operations at the factory were paused following the drone strike and reported no injuries.
The facility experienced damages to some of its production facilities and a warehouse, with disruptions reported to its power supply, as cited by TASS.
Pavel Malkov, the governor of Ryazan, updated on Telegram that emergency services were addressing the aftermath of the incident.
Although Russia’s Defence Ministry did not confirm any casualties or damage, it mentioned that six drones had been shot down over the Moscow region, with one intercepted in the capital itself.
Drones were also reported to have been downed in the border areas of Bryansk and Belgorod, as well as the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Additional regions targeted included Saratov, Rostov, Voronezh, Tula, Oryol, Lipetsk, and Kursk, where Ukrainian forces maintain control over sections of land despite Russian attempts to displace them.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that air defenses successfully intercepted Ukrainian drone attacks at four locations around the capital, with no significant damage or casualties reported.
