Ukraine War: Russia Hints Climb Down to “Talks”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Even as Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv was struck by Iranian-made kamikaze drones early on Thursday waking up the citizens with air raid sirens, Russia indicated some climb down from its hitherto tough postures on armed solutions to its “goals” hinting its readiness to return to negotiated settlement.
Some Russian media reports on Thursday quoted the Kremlin as saying that the goals of its “special military operation” in Ukraine were “unchanged,” but that they may be achieved through negotiations.
The comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to Russian newspaper Izvestia were the latest in a series of statements this week stressing Moscow was open to talks – a change of tone that followed a series of humiliating defeats for Russian forces as the war in Ukraine nears the end of its eighth month and Moscow launching a fresh initiative stepping up war efforts.
“The direction has not changed, the special military operation continues, it continues in order for us to achieve our goals,” Peskov was quoted as saying. “However we have repeatedly reiterated that we remain open to negotiations to achieve our objectives.”
While Russia has said before that it was prepared to negotiate, the repeated references this week to the possibility of dialogue were striking particularly after Russia bombed several Ukraine cities in a bid to subjugate the fierce fighting spirit of the Ukrainians.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was open to talks with the West, but the United States dismissed the statement as “posturing.” Lavrov returned to the issue on Thursday, telling Izvestia: “We will not run after anyone. If there are specific serious proposals, we are ready to consider them.” He added: “When we get some sort of signal, we will be ready to consider it.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out talking to President Vladimir Putin after Russia proclaimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions last month and rained missiles on Ukrainian cities this week in the wake of an attack on a vital bridge between Russia and annexed Crimea.
As Russia’s deadly assault on the capital region continued, Kyiv regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said the strike occurred in the area around the capital city. It was not yet clear if there were any casualties. In the southern city of Mykolaiv, overnight shelling destroyed a five-story apartment building as fighting continued along Ukraine’s southern front.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovych said the building’s top two floors were completely destroyed in a single strike and the rest of the building was left in rubble. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. Early morning attacks on Ukraine’s southern front have become a daily occurrence as Kyiv’s forces push a counteroffensive aimed at recapturing territory occupied by Russia.
Ukraine’s military said this week that its current air defences have shot down dozens of incoming Russian missiles and Shahed-136 drones, the so-called kamikaze drones that have played an increasingly deadly role in the war.
