Russian President Vladimir Putin called Friday for a “transitional administration” to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would “finish off” Ukrainian troops in hardline remarks as US President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire.
The U.S. has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that Ukraine be placed under temporary UN governance until a legitimate government is elected. Putin made the proposal as part of ongoing discussions for a ceasefire and a long-term peace deal to end Russia’s ongoing invasion. However, a White House spokesperson emphasized that governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution, which prohibits national elections under martial law.
Putin, continuing to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, argued that any peace agreements signed by Kyiv’s current government could be challenged by future leaders, suggesting a need for elections to elect a “viable government” to negotiate peace.
According to the report by the Russian military, Ukrainian forces used US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to strike the Sudzha gas pipeline facility on Friday, causing a blaze. The defense ministry in Moscow claimed that the metering station is no longer operational.
Last week, Moscow accused Kiev of sabotaging the same site using planted explosives. Ukrainian forces seized the station last August as part of their incursion into Kursk Region, but have been largely pushed out over recent weeks.
The Russian military said the Ukrainians had damaged the station during their retreat, as they could no longer use it for military logistics.
This is a breach of the ceasefire Ukraine has allegedly agreed too- negotiated by the US, of course
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted a proposal from his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to suspend attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure; Kiev agreed to the mutual moratorium.
The Russian military has since reported multiple violations by Ukraine, which it said demonstrates Kiev’s duplicity. Moscow claims it is honoring its obligations under the deal as part of an effort to normalize relations with Washington.
However, commenting on the destruction of the Sudzha station on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow reserves the right to withdraw from the agreement, since “it would be illogical for us to observe it, when every night we face attempted strikes on our energy infrastructure.”
Too early for higher level talks with Russia? Claims Rubio. Didn’t Trump want peace, yesterday? Didn’t he say he’d end the war in 24 hours?
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that it would be premature to expect higher-level talks between Russian and U.S. officials as Washington assesses Moscow’s response to its efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“I think you have to make more progress on a technical level,” Rubio told reporters. “There’s a lot of work to be done with both sides, particularly with the Russian side, which we haven’t talked to for years.”
Years of talks, that may come to nothing.