Kyiv/BACHMUT, Ukraine, July 7 (R) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused the West of carrying out decades of aggression against Moscow and warned that Western countries could even try to beat Russia on the battlefield lead to a tragedy for Ukraine.
The statement comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov prepared for a closed meeting of G20 state ministers in Indonesia on Friday, where Putin’s top diplomat will meet with most staunch opponents for the first time since February’s invasion of Ukraine.
In Ukraine, the regional governor of the northeastern city of Kharkiv said late Thursday that three people were killed and five others wounded after Russian forces bombed the city.
Russian forces also attacked other potential conquests in eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected new offensive.
“We have heard several times that the West wants to fight us to the last Ukrainian. This is a tragedy for the people of Ukraine, but everything seems to be heading towards it,” Putin said in a televised statement to the heads of parliament.
The West has failed in its attempt to contain Russia and its sanctions against Moscow have caused difficulties, “but not to the extent intended,” Putin added. Russia has not rejected peace talks, but the longer the conflict drags on, the harder it will be to reach an agreement, he said.
Earlier, Ukraine lost one of its key international supporters after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned. Ukraine said it hoped British support would last and thanked Johnson for defending Ukraine’s interests, though Moscow did not hide its satisfaction at the political demise of a leader it has long criticized for so vigorously arming Kyiv .
In a phone call, Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “You are a hero, everyone loves you,” a Johnson spokesman said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the British Prime Minister as a “true friend of Ukraine” for being among the first world leaders to unequivocally condemn the invasion, and also “for helping Ukraine defend itself and support it.” to win wars in the future”.
Johnson’s resignation comes at a time of civil unrest in some other European countries that support Kyiv and doubts about his ability to stay in power in a protracted conflict.
The day began with a bold ceremony by Ukraine raising its flag in a ceremony on the socalled Snake Island in the Black Sea, which was recaptured from the Russians south of the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
Moscow responded quickly with its fighter jets bombing the strategic island shortly after, destroying part of the Ukrainian detachment on the territory, the Russian government said.
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