Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cynically reiterated Putin’s previous assertion that Kostiantynivka is purportedly under Russian military control.
Dmitry Peskov / © Associated Press
The Kremlin reacted brazenly to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to hold a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, which Russia falsely claims to have captured.
Russian propagandists are quoting Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov’s statement.
Peskov cynically repeated Putin’s earlier claim that Kostiantynivka is allegedly under Russian military control, although Ukrainian authorities and the Armed Forces command deny this information.
Referring to Kostiantynivka, Putin’s press secretary, with an impassive face, announced that this Ukrainian city has supposedly “fully come under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.” Following this, Peskov proceeded to dictate the terms for a leaders’ meeting, echoing Zelenskyy’s absurd “invitation” to Moscow.
“If Mr. Zelenskyy expresses readiness to come to the Russian Federation in this way, we welcome it. But we want to remind you that Putin spoke about readiness to receive him in Moscow. After all, the capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow, not Kostiantynivka,” stated the Kremlin spokesperson.
He further added that the Ukrainian president could arrive in Moscow “as soon as he is ready to make important, responsible decisions,” clearly implying Zelenskyy’s agreement to the Kremlin’s ultimatums and capitulation.
Recall that earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed holding negotiations specifically in Kostiantynivka, ironically reacting to Russian statements about the alleged capture of the city. The President of Ukraine emphasized that if the settlement is indeed under Russian control, the Russian leader should have no problem holding a meeting there.
Major Andriy Kovalyov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, confirmed that Putin’s statements about Kostiantynivka are false. According to him, Ukrainian units continue to conduct defensive operations within defined boundaries in and around the settlement.
Late in the evening on July 3, Putin met with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and other high-ranking Russian commanders, announcing the “capture” of Kostiantynivka, the “liberation” of the Luhansk region, and “significant advances” by the occupiers in the Donetsk region.
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