LOS ANGELES.–Hit overnight with another missile and drone strike in Kiev, Ukraine questioned Russia’s sincerity in pursuing peace talks. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that both sides continued to attack each other daily, prompting ongoing military operations on select military targets. Ukraine claims that Russia hits civilian targets with the latest missile and drone attacks killing 15 people, including four children. “The special military operation continues. You can see that strikes on Russian infrastructure, often on Russian civilian infrastructure, by the Kiev regime are also continuing. The Russian armed forces are also carrying out their tasks,” Peskov said. Peskove reminds all parties interested in peace that there is no formal peace with Ukraine continuing to hit Russia’s oil infrasture including a vital oil pipeline going from Russia to Hungary.
Hugarian officials said the head of Ukraine’s drone operations Peter Szijjarto from entering Hungary or the Schengen countries for his role in bombing the Druzhba oil pipeline carrying Russian oil to Budapest. Peskov wants the West to consider that as long a Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to strike at targets inside Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin has no choice but continue the attacks. Zelensky was incensed that the Hungarian-born Szijjarto was banned in Hungary and the EU because of his role in striking the Druzhba pipeline that brings Russian oil to Hungary. “At the same time, Russia remains interested in continuing the negotiation process in order to achieve our goals through political and diplomatic means,” Peskov said, serving notice to Zelenksy that until there’s a peace plan in the works the war goes on.
Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the overnight strikes targeted military-industrial facilities and military bases with Kinshal missiles, drones and high-precision air-launched missiles. Kiev confirmed that its overnight strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, hoping to cripple Putin’s most lucrative industry for the Russian economy. Peskov confirmed that Russia’s domestic oil market was not affected by Ukrainian attacks but it created a fire and temporarily disrupted the Durzhba pipeline. So when it comes to ongoing military operations, Putin won’t let up until Zelenksy signs a peace deal. Zelensky pressured the EU to get a 30-day ceasefire or face more harsh economic sanctions. But with Zelensky hitting Russia’s oild infrastructure it’s perfectly reasonable for Putin to continue the war. Zelensky should get serious about peace talks if he wants the war to end.
Hungarian PresidentViktor Orban wasn’t happy with Zelensky for striking Hungary’s main supply of Russian oil, something that hurts the Hungarian economy. Peskov wants to remind Zelensky that if he wants peace, he needs to get to work with the Ukrainian peace delegation that needs to work on compromises that could bring it about. Peskov sees know progress with Zelensky saying it’s against the Ukrainian constitution to cede land to a foreign power, despite the ongoing war that’s lasted three-and-a-half years. Zelensky has been dragging his feet hoping that the EU would fund his proxy war with the Russian Federation. Instead of moving directly into negotiations in Istanbul, Zelensky keeps insisting that he can’t cede sovereign territory because it’s against the Ukrainian constitution. If peace is Zelensky’s top priority, he needs to get to work.
As long as Zelensky keeps ordering attacks on Russia’s military and oil infrastructure Putin’s attacks are going to continue with ferocity. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is in the blame Putin mode, never holding Zelensky accountable for escalating the conflict. If French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer want Zelensky to continue battling the Kremlin, they’ll let Zelensky attack deep inside Russia. Merz has been threatening to give Zelensky long-range Taurus missiles, even though it would make Germany and enemy combatant in the conflict. EU officials haven’t figured out what they’re doing, either seeking peace of escalating the war. Giving Zelensky long-range weapons to strike deep inside the Russian Federation would be a major escalation in the war. Merz, Macron and Starment must figure out what they’re doing.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov is right that Zelensky can’t have it both ways: Saying he wants peace while bombing Russian targets. So, when it comes to a response from the European Union, they need to either push Zelensky in the direction of real peace talks or fund his perpetual war against the Kremlin. EU leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban object to Zelensky bombing as strategic pipeline supplying crude oil to Budapest. Peskov said the no ceasefire agreement has been reached and his country was pushing for peace talks. But until there’s real peace talks in place, both countries will keep bombing each other knowing the war goes on. Putin wants to see progress at the technical level where both peace delegations work out the details of a lasting peace. Zelensky has shown little interest in bringing the war to an end, instead complaining about Russian attacks.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically netural commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
