President Russia Vladimir Putin denied his troops bombarded the cities in Ukraine despite the invasion he launched into the former Soviet Union since February 24.
In a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin considered various information about Russia’s incursions into various parts of Ukraine as disgusting hoax propaganda.
“Reports of alleged ongoing air strikes in Kyiv and other major cities are disgusting false propaganda,” Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin on Friday.
The response was expressed following a downpour of world criticism of Russia which continues to pound Ukraine.
On the eighth day of the Russian invasion, Putin’s troops continue to launch air strikes on a number of cities including the capital Kyiv.
Russian troops even managed to occupy the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN), which is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant even caught fire due to fierce fighting between the Ukrainian and Russian troops, sparking European concerns regarding the threat of nuclear radiation disaster caused.
The Ukrainian government confirmed that there was no radiation leak due to the Russian troops’ attack. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant also stated that it would continue to operate normally even at the gunpoint of the Russian army.
That way, during the eight days of the invasion, Russia managed to occupy two of the four nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
In his conversation with Scholz, Putin also revealed that Russia is open to dialogue with Ukraine on the condition that all the demands of the Kremlin are met by Kyiv and Western countries.
“Putin confirms that Russia is open to dialogue with Ukraine, as well as with all those who want peace in Ukraine. But on condition that all Russian demands are met,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Prior to launching the invasion of Ukraine, Putin had made a series of demands against Ukraine and Western allies of Kyiv such as the United States and NATO.
Putin’s main demand is the cancellation of Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Although Russia’s desire has been achieved, Putin still launched an invasion of Ukraine.
Putin then laid out three additional conditions if he wanted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to stop. First, Ukraine’s neutral status that does not side with the West.
Second, ask Ukraine to stop the practice of fascism (denazification) which Moscow claims is carried out by Kyiv against its Russian-speaking citizens.
Third, Putin wants Ukraine to recognize the Crimean Peninsula as part of Russian territory. Crimea is a territory of Ukraine which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
“Putin hopes that during the planned third round of talks with Ukraine, Kyiv representatives will take a reasonable and constructive position,” the Kremlin added.
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