Putin Accuses Ukraine of Interfering in Russian Elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine on Friday of deliberately obstructing negotiations to end the war and of attempting to interfere in Russia's parliamentary election. He provided no evidence to support the claim of election interference.

Putin also criticized Ukraine again for failing to hold presidential elections during martial law. Kyiv argues that Ukrainian law does not permit elections while martial law is in force.

Putin said that Ukrainian attacks on targets under Moscow's control prove the insincerity of Kyiv's offers to negotiate. He pointed to an attack in the Russian-occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region that, according to him, killed the head of the local election commission.

"They are doing everything to ensure that there is no peace and no negotiations", Putin declared.

Russians began voting on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election, which Ukraine has labeled a "pseudo election".

Putin also addressed Russia's defense. According to him, Moscow will continue to rely on its nuclear triad of land-, sea- and air-based nuclear weapons and intends to strengthen its missile defense further.

(Reuters, est)