Putin Vows Retaliation over Ukrainian Strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened Ukraine with further attacks on its economic infrastructure. According to him, Kyiv has opened a "Pandora's box" by striking Russian economic targets, and Moscow will respond with strikes against the "most sensitive economic sectors" of the Ukrainian economy.

Over the summer, Ukraine intensified its drone attacks on Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and online retailers' warehouses. Kyiv claims it is targeting facilities critical to Russia's war effort.

Russia has responded with strikes on Ukrainian economic infrastructure, including facilities related to grain exports via the Black Sea.

Putin dismissed concerns that attacks threatening Ukrainian agricultural exports would cause a global food shortage. He claims that Russia can make up for any shortfall in Ukrainian supplies, even though its own grain export infrastructure is also facing Ukrainian attacks.

The Russian president also reiterated that Moscow is open to peace talks, but he said they must be based on "realities on the ground". He rejected unspecified "exotic" proposals that Ukraine had reportedly submitted through intermediaries.

(Reuters, lud)