During an operational meeting with government officials in Moscow on Monday, August 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that peace talks with Ukraine are unnecessary. He claimed that Ukraine has been attempting to strengthen its position for future negotiations by invading the Russian region of Kursk over the past week. Putin further alleged that Ukraine, supported by Western backers, is acting on their directives, with the West using Ukrainians as proxies in the conflict.
He asked, “What kind of negotiations can we have with those who indiscriminately attack civilians and civilian infrastructure or endanger nuclear power facilities? What is there to discuss with such entities?”
Putin claimed that Kyiv’s actions are intended to hinder Moscow’s advances in eastern Ukraine, stressing that the main goal of Russian forces is to drive Ukrainian troops out of its territory.
He further stated that Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine has intensified by “one and a half times,” with the military making progress along the entire front line.
He further claimed that one of Ukraine’s goals is to “sow discord and disunity” within Russian society and to “undermine the unity and solidarity of the Russian people.”
“The losses sustained by the Ukrainian Armed Forces are rising significantly, particularly among their most combat-ready units and divisions that the enemy is deploying near our border,” he observed, adding that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of individuals signing contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry.
Last Tuesday, Russia reported that Ukrainian forces, including tanks and armored combat vehicles, had attacked its military positions near two border settlements in the Kursk region.
Since then, Moscow has announced that it has been repelling Ukrainian advances into the border region and thwarting airstrikes targeting Kursk and neighboring areas.
On August 7, Putin accused Kyiv of orchestrating a “large-scale provocation” and engaging in “indiscriminate shooting.” In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked, “Russia brought the war to our land and must face the consequences of its actions.”
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated further after reports surfaced of a fire breaking out at a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant late Sunday.
Moscow blamed Ukraine for the fire, alleging it was caused by shelling in the city of Enerhodar, where the plant is located. Meanwhile, Kyiv accused Russia of starting the fire and using the plant as a means to “blackmail Ukraine, Europe, and the global community.”