President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia was open to peace talks over Ukraine, but that the only way to stop the conflict was for Western countries to end their arms supplies to Kyiv.
Putin also repeated his accusation that the West was seeking to defeat Russia in Ukraine and said that Moscow had its own “peace plan” for that country.
Putin also said on Tuesday he believed Ukraine had lost 25 to 30% of military vehicles supplied to Kyiv by western countries since the start of its counteroffensive and that Ukraine’s human losses were 10 times higher than Russia’s.
Putin made the comments during a televised meeting with military bloggers.
He said Russia had lost 50 of its tanks in the fighting, some of which could be repaired, and that Ukraine had lost over 160.
He also said that Ukraine was responsible for the breach last week of the Kakhovka dam, which he said had been caused by Kyiv shelling the structure with US-made HIMARS missile systems.
A view shows a flooded area after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kherson, Ukraine June 8, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Vladyslav Smilianets)Reuters was unable to immediately verify his assertions.
Putin says no need for martial law in Russia after surge of cross-border attacks
Putin said on Tuesday that he saw no need to introduce martial law in Russia, amid a recent uptick in Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes and raids by ground forces on Russian territory.
In a televised meeting with military bloggers after weeks of bombardment of the border region of Belgorod and a wave of drone strikes on Moscow itself, Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory were a problem and that Russia needed to defend its own borders better.
Putin says Russia needs no new mobilization for now
Putin said on Tuesday that Russia does not currently need any additional call-up of reservists, having announced an initial mobilization in September.
Putin also told military bloggers and war correspondents at a televised meeting that future mobilisations would depend on what goals Russia set for itself in Ukraine, suggesting that a renewed bid to take Kyiv could require extra manpower.
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