Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine had opened "Pandora's box" with its strikes on Russian economic targets, saying that Russia had responded with its own more effective strikes targeting Ukraine's economy.
Speaking in an interview with Vesti on Saturday, Putin said Kiev had opened a “Pandora’s box,” adding that Ukraine and its Western backers had gained no advantage against Russia and would never do so.
He described attempts to defeat Russia within 40 days as “another adventure” by Kiev and its Western leaders.
Putin said Ukraine and Western countries had long dreamed of pushing the country into collapse and had repeatedly spoken about it.
He also said the Ukrainian attacks had caused economic damage and casualties in Russia but had not affected the situation on the battlefield.
Putin said Russia had increased attacks on Ukrainian defence-industry enterprises, including in Kiev, in response to strikes on Russian logistics facilities.
“We have begun to respond to the enemy's actions against our civilian industrial facilities and logistics,” he said. “The Kiev regime has set itself the goal of damaging our economy. What has it done? It opened this Pandora's box itself.”
‘I am confident’
He said the Russian army’s response to Kiev’s logistics attacks was more precise and destructive, stressing that Ukraine’s economy, including its agricultural sector, was “breathing its last.”
Putin also accused Kiev of trying to disrupt Russia’s elections through attacks and said Moscow would strengthen state institutions and protect the legitimacy of government.
"I am confident that this attempt at informational and psychological influence on Russian society is also doomed to failure," he said.
On possible negotiations, Putin said Russia remained ready for dialogue with Ukraine but only on the basis of the situation on the ground.
He said Russia had received “exotic” proposals on Ukraine talks, emphasising Moscow considered them unacceptable.
Putin also rejected concerns that Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and agricultural infrastructure could contribute to global food shortages, saying Russia had sufficient export potential to prevent a shortage on world markets.
