Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Kyiv had opened “Pandora’s box” with its strikes on Russian economic targets, saying that Russia would respond by striking Ukraine’s “most vulnerable economic sectors.”
This past summer, Ukraine escalated a campaign of drone strikes against Russian economic infrastructure, including oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses, seeking to destroy infrastructure that it claims plays a central role in Russia’s war effort.
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Russia responded with strikes against Ukrainian economic infrastructure, including Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea.
“The regime in Kyiv set out to damage our economy. What did it do? It opened this very Pandora’s box itself. So now, expect a response that will target your most vulnerable economic sectors,” said Vladimir Putin in comments made to a reporter for Russian state television.
The Russian president stated that the strikes, which targeted Ukrainian agricultural exports, will not cause global food shortages because Russia could replace Ukrainian exports, even though Kyiv has targeted Russian grain export infrastructure.
“We are facing challenges regarding the transportation of our products, but we will resolve these issues. Consequently, there will be no shortages on the global market,” President Putin said.
Russia and Ukraine had previously adhered to an agreement, brokered by Turkey, to safeguard grain exports from the Black Sea. However, Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023.
The Russian leader also reiterated his position that Moscow is open to peace talks, but based on “the reality on the ground” rather than what he called “outlandish” proposals, which he said were made by Ukraine through mediators.
Source: KYPE
