Putin Vows More Strikes on Ukraine and Reaffirms Support for Iran Despite Western Pressure

Vladimir Putin has vowed further large-scale strikes against Ukraine while insisting that Russia will continue standing with Iran, even as European governments press Moscow to halt its military campaign.

After a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said Russian armed forces had received instructions to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, according to The New York Times. He also said Russia’s operations were threatening Ukrainian agricultural exports and creating financial pressure. “I’m not saying we’ll collapse the economy there, but it’s a serious challenge for them,” he said.

Putin also escalated his rhetoric toward Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling the Ukrainian president a perpetrator of “state terrorism.” His remarks followed warnings from Kyiv that civilian aircraft faced safety risks in Russia because of Ukrainian drone activity. Putin said negotiations were impossible with those using such methods. “I’d draw attention to the fact that they are the ones asking us to resume negotiations, asking for personal meetings. Negotiations are not conducted with terrorists,” he said.

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I’m not saying we’ll collapse the economy there, but it’s a serious challenge for them.

The statements came as the European Union and NATO urged stronger economic pressure on Moscow. The EU said it was preparing its broadest sanctions package yet against about 1,600 people and entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex. European states also targeted vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet, which they accuse of helping evade oil export restrictions. Moscow responded with warnings about European shipping.

Germany accused Russia of directing an attempted drone attack at Leipzig-Halle Airport and closed a Russian consulate in response. German interior authorities said recovered drone components matched equipment used by Russia in Ukraine. Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Czech Republic backed Germany’s accusation. During the summit, Putin met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and pledged continued solidarity with Tehran as it defended its national interests. The meeting followed reports of Russian intelligence assistance to Iran involving US assets in the Persian Gulf and shipments of drone components through the Caspian Sea after a temporary halt in hostilities.

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I’d draw attention to the fact that they are the ones asking us to resume negotiations, asking for personal meetings. Negotiations are not conducted with terrorists.