MOSCOW, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government and the defense ministry must roll out measures to mitigate the fallout from Ukrainian strikes against Russia's civilian infrastructure, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.
During a video conference with members of the government, Putin noted that the frontline situation for Ukraine has deteriorated rapidly. Kiev has adopted a tactic of launching attacks on Russian civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure in an attempt to create threats against Russia, disrupt energy supplies and affect the tourist season, he said.
"The primary responsibility for mitigating these threats lies with the Ministry of Defense and other security agencies. At the same time, the Government of the Russian Federation must also take additional measures to minimize and reduce to zero the consequences of such actions," Putin said, adding that Ukraine's attacks are designed to secure favorable bargaining leverage for itself in peace talks.
"It is nothing more than a manufactured impression of advantage, for the actual realities on the battlefield paint an entirely different picture," Putin noted.
He stressed that what Kiev did were "terrorist strikes." "Targeting civilian infrastructure, such as the bus carrying Belarusian children and a student dormitory in Starobelsk, cannot alter or sway developments on the frontlines."
Putin also noted that Russia will stick to its established stance and remains ready to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine based on the agreements reached in Istanbul, and the frameworks discussed in Anchorage, Alaska in the United States. ■
