'There can be no freeze': Russia reiterates demands to end Ukraine war
Moscow: Russia has rejected proposals to simply freeze the fighting in Ukraine, reiterating that any lasting settlement must address what Moscow describes as the "root causes" of the conflict, including Ukraine's permanent neutrality and territorial concessions.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Moscow would not agree to a pause in hostilities without resolving the issues it considers to be at the heart of the crisis, Russia Today reported.
"As Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said, there can be no 'freeze' of the conflict without addressing the root causes of the crisis," Galuzin said.
He also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of having "completely lost touch with reality" and claimed that he was seeking to "escalate the conflict," according to the report.
Galuzin separately condemned what he described as Ukrainian attacks on civilian energy infrastructure as "barbaric". He cited strikes on a Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
The CPC terminal transports Kazakh crude to international markets in Europe and Asia and has several major Western energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell, among its shareholders, RT reported.
The Russian comments came as Zelenskyy reported extensive damage and casualties following recent Russian strikes on Odesa, Kharkiv, Pavlohrad and other parts of Ukraine.
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In a post on X, Zelenskyy said emergency teams were working to restore electricity in Odesa after strikes hit energy infrastructure and port facilities. He described the attacks as part of Russia's systematic "war against global food security".
"All necessary services are involved, and the work will continue for as long as needed. Residential buildings and the port were also damaged overnight. This is, in particular, how Russia is systematically waging war against global food security. As of now, eight people are known to have been injured. Everyone is receiving assistance," he wrote.
In Kharkiv, Zelenskyy said a drone directly struck a residential high-rise, destroying four floors and killing two people while injuring dozens more.
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He also said a strike near a shopping centre and a power installation in Pavlohrad injured nine people, including four children.
Describing the scale of Russia's aerial attacks, Zelenskyy said, "this week alone, 61 missiles of various types were used against Ukraine, including 56 that strike along a ballistic trajectory. There were also more than 1,560 attack drones and 1,540 aerial bombs.
"Every such attack on human life serves as a constant reminder - we need more pressure, more sanctions against Russia, and more air defence for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said, while thanking international partners for their continued support.
In a separate video message posted on X, Zelenskyy provided an update on relief and restoration efforts in Odesa.
"Work is still ongoing in Odesa following last night's strike. There were power and water outages - all services are working to restore supplies. As of this morning, more than 300,000 families in Odesa and the region were without power. By now, power has already been restored to a third of them, and the work continues. I want to thank all the repair crews, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and everyone involved," he said.