Putin addresses refinery attacks and peace terms at Valdai Club

At the Valdai Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have ‘partially achieved their goals’ and cost Russia approximately one percent of its GDP. Putin claimed that Ukraine would be unable to conduct deep strikes into Russian territory without technical support from the West, which he characterized as direct involvement in the conflict.

Putin expressed that Russia prefers to end the war through negotiations and envisions a neutral Ukraine, asserting that the country is losing its sovereignty and is being ‘controlled from the outside.’ He accused Western nations of attempting to isolate Russia and create a ‘new iron curtain,’ while maintaining that Russia was forced into the conflict to defend itself against aggression.

In response to the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the first combat use of the FP-7 tactical ballistic missile, noting that production of the weapon will continue.