2 days ago
Russia demands 'unequivocally hostile countries' stop supporting Ukraine
Russia has demanded that the United Kingdom and European Union cease military training for Ukrainian soldiers as well as the provision of arms supplies.
The warning from Rodion Miroshnik, Vladimir Putin's special envoy to the foreign ministry, came following some of the most extreme strikes on Ukraine to date.
The country was hit with up to 537 strikes by Russian forces over the weekend while an F-16 warplane was also shot down – killing pilot Lieutenant-Colonel Maksym Ustymenko. The warning from Rodion Miroshnik, Vladimir Putin's special envoy to the foreign ministry, came following some of the most extreme strikes on Ukraine to date. Pic: Getty Images
Of the strikes, 477 were drones and 60 were missiles, with Lt Col Ustimenko, 31, hailed a 'hero' following his death.
The late pilot has since been awarded the Hero of Ukraine honour by President Volodymyr Zelensky for his defence of the Ukrainian people from 'yet another massive Russian attack.'
President Zelensky branded Lt Col Ustimenko 'one of our best' and expressed his pain at the loss of the pilot.
Following the attack, Russian envoy Miroschnik has hit out at countries who he says are participating or complicit in the war by providing weapons and training to Ukrainian militants. President Zelensky branded Ustimenko 'one of our best' and expressed his pain at the loss of the pilot. Pic: Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Speaking to news outlet Izvestia, he said: 'All of this amounts to direct complicity in the conflict. Halting these programmes would be a signal of willingness to seek a resolution.'
Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev echoed Miroschnik's sentiments, stating that any help given to Ukraine 'clearly does not promote conflict resolution.'
He added that aid to Ukraine was coming from countries that were 'unequivocally hostile to Russia.'
'This is a clear campaign against everything Russian,' he stated, 'Moscow's dialogue with London and Brussels has been cut off, and the EU and NATO show no intention of resuming it.'
It comes as the 27 leaders of the European Union agreed to extend sanctions on Russia for another six months, amid fears Hungary were set to let the measures lapse.
Sanctions in place over the ongoing conflict will remain in place until at least the beginning of 2026, though Slovakia refused to show their approval with the renewal of the sanctions.
