Ukraine will intensify its attacks on Russian oil refineries, in response to Moscow’s new strategy aimed at forcing civilians to flee Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, assuring that civilians would not be targeted.
Citing information gathered by Ukrainian intelligence agencies, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters: “We have seen documents and we know that (ed. Russian President Vladimir Putin) has allowed (the Russian armed forces) to launch attacks on infrastructure, supply networks, and, in particular, to strike cities and villages indiscriminately… roads, schools, hospitals.” According to Zelenskyy, the goal of Russian forces is “to pressure civilians to flee the capital and other cities.”
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The Ukrainian president attributed this change in strategy to Putin’s attempt to appear strong, at a time when—as Zelenskyy said—Russian forces are suffering heavy losses in the Donbas.
The Kremlin was not available for comment on Saturday, Reuters reported. However, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow urged foreign nationals to leave Kyiv in anticipation of new attacks, as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on areas of Russian territory.
“We must respond… To their attacks on our energy infrastructure, we must respond with attacks on theirs. First and foremost, their refineries: whatever provides them with the funds to wage this war,” Zelenskyy said.
Commenting on the first battlefield use of the Ukrainian-made FP-7 ballistic missile, with a range of approximately 250 kilometers, Zelenskyy said he had called on the manufacturer, Fire Point, to expedite the development of a longer-range missile, the FP-9, which could strike Moscow.
After the U.S. government invited Putin to the G20 summit in Miami in December and held talks with Russian envoys on business deals, Zelenskyy urged Washington not to normalize relations with Moscow until peace is secured in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy appeared willing to meet with Putin for peace talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit, but warned the U.S. not to harbor “illusions” that Russia would end hostilities if it gained control of Donbas.
“Peace is more important than the economy,” Zelenskyy emphasized, explaining that any restoration of Moscow’s economic and diplomatic relations with the West would have to be contingent on an end to Russian attacks.
Source: In.gr
