Putin: No Need For Massive Strikes On Ukraine Now

Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered a speech from Astana, Kazakhstan which has continued attempts to reframe Ukraine as unnecessarily prolonging the war.

• Key comments: "Direct clash of NATO troop with Russia would lead to global catastrophe."
• "I hope those who make decisions will decide not to."
• Putin: "No need for massive strikes on Ukraine now."
  • Putin's comments appear to signal an end to the week-long missile barrage which followed the attack on the Kerch bridge.
• The missile strikes drew condemnation from much of the international community and achieved few tangible military goals.
• Putin: "We are open for talks [with Ukraine], we have always said. [...] If Kyiv is ripe for talks, then mediation efforts would be required."
• "We respect [Ukraine's] position, but we know that Kyiv decided not to proceed with talks."
• The chance of talks remains remote. There has been no signal from Moscow that the Russia's strategic objectives have changed in a way which would allow Kyiv scope for engaging with talks.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to maintain that talks are contingent on a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.