Putin says Ukraine, West gain no advantage against Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Ukraine and its Western backers had gained no advantage against Russia and would never do so.

Speaking in an interview with Vesti, Putin said Kyiv had opened a “Pandora’s box” by launching attacks on civilian targets and was receiving a response.

He described attempts to defeat Russia within 40 days as “another adventure” by Kyiv 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 defense-industry enterprises, including in Kyiv, 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 Kyiv regime has set itself the goal of damaging our economy. What has it done? It opened this Pandora's box itself.”

He said the Russian army’s response to Kyiv’s logistics attacks was more precise and destructive, stressing that Ukraine’s economy, including its agricultural sector, was “breathing its last.”

Putin also accused Kyiv 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, emphasizing 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.