Putin Rejects Ukraine Ceasefire on Long-Range Strikes and Issues Nuclear Warning Over Kaliningrad

Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly dismissed the possibility of a ceasefire regarding long-range strikes with Ukraine, even as Moscow intensifies its aerial campaign against Kyiv.

Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting in Moscow, Putin rejected a proposal previously discussed between United States President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That proposal suggested a mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.

While acknowledging that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries had impacted the nation's GDP, Putin stated that Moscow is now heavily retaliating by targeting Ukraine's steel companies and supply chains. In Kyiv, city officials reported that a Russian drone recently struck a school, though no casualties occurred as occupants sheltered safely.

Addressing the broader geopolitical conflict, Putin warned Western nations against escalating tensions concerning the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, cautioning that Moscow is prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend its territory if necessary. He also reiterated that Russia ultimately seeks a negotiated end to the conflict and a neutral Ukraine.