Russia escalates. The Kremlin threatens to occupy the Kharkiv and Sumski Districts

During the Friday talks in Istanbul, the Russian delegation demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from these parts of the Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporoski districts, which it failed to control and threatened the occupation of the Kharkiv and Sumski Districts in the event of a refusal – the suspicion portal said, citing a source of negotiations.

“Russia not only demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from territories, which it did not gain with military funds, but also threatened the occupation of the Kharkiv and Sumski District in the event of a refusal. This request was presented as a preliminary condition for the suspension of weapons. The Russian delegation also said that Russia has been ready to fight for years,” Suspilne wrote.

Earlier, such information appeared on the profile of the journalist “The Economist” by Oliver Carroll on the X platform. “That's not all. A well -informed source claims that Russia will agree to suspension of weapons only if Ukraine releases four from four + annexed + circuits, which Russia is not fully controlled. Sumski, “Carroll wrote. (https://tinyurl.com/f45a989f)

The journalist also quoted the head of the Russian delegation of Vladimir Miedinski: “We do not want war, but we are ready to fight for a year, two, three – how much it would not last. We fought with Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight? (…) Perhaps some of the sitting at this table will lose more of their loved ones. Russia is ready to fight forever.”

Earlier on Friday, talks of the delegation of Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul took place. These were the first direct conversations of representatives of the Russian and Ukraine authorities in three years. The Minister of Defense was headed by the Defense of the Ukrainian delegation, and the Russian was managed by Miedinski, adviser to Vladimir Putin.

Diesov informed that during talks the Ukrainian and Russian delegation discussed the possibility of exchanging prisoners of 1000 per 1000 people. The parties also talked about the suspension of weapons and preparing a potential meeting of Wołodymyr Zelanski with Putin – wrote the Ukrainian Prawda Portal. (PAP)

IRA/ AP/