Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday reiterated that Moscow will accomplish all its objectives in Ukraine by force, criticizing Kyiv for showing “no hurry” to resolve the conflict peacefully, according to TASS.
Speaking during a visit to a Russian Armed Forces command post, Putin said, “And if the Kiev authorities do not want to resolve the matter peacefully, we will accomplish all the tasks before us in the course of the special military operation by military means.” He added that Ukrainian leaders remain reluctant to pursue a peaceful resolution, referencing comments he made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a year ago.
The remarks came as Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared visuals on X (formerly Twitter), reporting that nearly 500 drones, including “Shaheds,” and 40 missiles, including Kinzhals, targeted Kyiv’s energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s top priority remains ending the war, accusing Russia of demonstrating a continued desire for conflict. “Since last night, the scale of attacks shows that diplomacy is not their priority,” he said.
On the diplomatic front, Zelensky met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday, discussing ongoing support with European allies. Canada announced a new assistance package for Ukraine during the meeting. Zelensky is also scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss the nearly four-year-long war and seek a resolution.
Zelensky also noted that Russia had rejected proposals for a Christmas ceasefire, further escalating missile and drone strikes over the holiday period.
