Today at 13:57
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will continue carrying out retaliatory strikes against Russia. According to him, such actions are not only a response to attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities but also a means of pressuring the aggressor state toward peace, UATV English reports.
Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Zelenskyy stated:
“We do not want this war and never wanted it. Everyone knows this, our partners know this. We certainly do not want Ukraine to burn because of the enemy, but if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too. Therefore, we emphasize once again that it is time to end the aggression and time to end this war.”
The president described the recent strike on Moscow as a completely justified response to Russian attacks.
“We said that we would reach them if Putin does not want to end this war. We will not sit quietly; we will respond. The response must be strong and fair,” Zelenskyy stressed.
He also recalled that Russian forces had recently struck the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
“We do not want this war and never wanted it. Everyone knows it, and our partners know it. We certainly do not want Ukraine to burn because of the enemy. But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too. Therefore, we once again emphasize: it is time to end the aggression, it is time to end this war,” he added.
According to Zelenskyy, following the G7 summit, Ukraine’s partners share the view that Kyiv is fully committed to ending the war, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing everything possible to avoid directly addressing questions about a ceasefire and ending the conflict.
“That is why we must increase the pressure. Of course, I mean pressure of various kinds. It is not only Ukraine’s long-range sanctions. There are also partner sanctions—on energy, the shadow fleet, oil, gas, the banking system, weapons, and the defense industry.
Everything possible must be done so that Russia feels there is no point in continuing this war. Most importantly, the Russian people must begin to feel that one person is waging this war—Putin. But ordinary people are paying the price. That is why everyone must pressure Putin: Ukrainians, Europeans, Americans, and Russians themselves should finally wake up and pressure their leader,” Zelenskyy said.
Attack on Moscow on June 18
During the night of June 18, drones targeted Moscow. Among the facilities hit was the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district, while the “Kover” emergency aviation protocol was introduced at four Moscow airports.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Moscow refinery was struck for the second time, resulting in a large fire at the facility. Preliminary reports indicate at least five separate fire locations, including a combined oil-processing unit, secondary refining facilities, and a fuel storage area.
Read also: Not Only the Moscow Oil Refinery Burning: General Staff Confirms Strikes on Multiple Russian Targets
