Putin says he does not reject starting peace talks with Ukraine – as Moscow is hit by drone strike that damages buildings close to the Kremlin and closes Russian airspace
- Three Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow early on Sunday, officials confirmed
- Putin open to peace talks but says ceasefire is impossible with Kyiv on offensive
- Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly rejected the idea of a ceasefire
Vladimir Putin has said he does not reject the idea of peace talks with Ukraine as the Russian capital has been hit by a three-drone attack.
The Russian President said yesterday that an African initiative could be a basis for peace in Ukraine, but argued it was hard to implement a ceasefire when Kyiv was on the offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly rejected the idea of a ceasefire now as it would leave Russia in control of nearly a fifth of his country and give its forces time to regroup after 17 grinding months of war.
It comes a Russia’s Defence Ministry said three Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow early this morning, injuring one person and prompting a temporary closure of one of four airports around the capital. Officials referred to the incident as an ‘attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime’.
The attack was the fourth such attempt at a strike on the capital region this month and the third this week, fuelling concerns about Moscow’s vulnerability to attacks as the war in Ukraine drags on into its 18th month.
Vladimir Putin (pictured yesterday) has said he does not reject the idea of peace talks with Ukraine and said an African and Chinese initiative could serve as a basis for finding peace but warned there are things that are ‘impossible to implement’
Drones attacked Moscow’s elite office and residential skyscraper district early today causing damage to at least two buildings early this morning
Three drones attacked Moscow early this morning, injuring one person and prompting a temporary closure of one of four airports around the capital. Pictured: A view of a damaged office block of the Moscow International Business Center this morning
Russia’s Defence Ministry referred to the incident as an ‘attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime’. Pictured: Firefighters work near a damaged office building in the Moscow City today following a reported Ukrainian drone attack
Putin, speaking at a press conference yesterday after meeting African leaders in St Petersburg on Friday, said an African and Chinese initiative could serve as a basis for finding peace but warned there are things that are ‘impossible to implement’.
Both Ukraine and Russia have previously said they will not come to the table for negotiations unless certain preconditions are met.
It was reported last month that African mediation in the conflict could begin with confidence-building measures followed by a cessation of hostilities agreement accompanied by negotiations between Russia and the West.
‘There are provisions of this peace initiative that are being implemented,’ Putin said yesterday. ‘But there are things that are difficult or impossible to implement.’
He added that one of the points in the initiative was a ceasefire. ‘But the Ukrainian army is on the offensive, they are attacking, they are implementing a large-scale strategic offensive operation… We cannot cease fire when we are under attack.’
On the question of starting peace talks, Putin said, ‘We did not reject them… In order for this process to begin, there needs to be agreement on both sides.’
Zelensky is understood to have said that peace talks with Russia would only be possible after Kremlin forces are removed from occupied territory.
Meanwhile, reports emerged last night that Saudi Arabia is planning to host a Ukrainian-organized peace summit in early August seeking to find a way to start negotiations over Russia’s war on the country.
Those taking part in the summit will include Ukraine, as well as Brazil, India, South Africa and several other countries, an official – speaking on the condition of anonymity – said last night. A high-level official from US President Joe Biden’s administration also is expected to attend.
The source claimed that planning for the event is being overseen by Kyiv and Russia is expected not to attend.
The kingdom and Kyiv did not immediately acknowledge the planned talks.
Investigators examine a damaged skyscraper in the ‘Moscow City’ business district after a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, early on Sunday
A view of the damaged building in the ‘Moscow City’ business district after a reported drone attack in Moscow
A view of the damaged skyscraper is shown in the ‘Moscow City’ business district
Russian authorities say three Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow in the early hours on Sunday, injuring one person and prompting a temporary closure for air traffic of one of four airports
News of alleged peace talks comes a drones attacked Moscow’s elite office and residential skyscraper district early today causing damage to at least two buildings.
Screams were heard as explosions ripped apart the several floors of a major building.
The suspected Ukrainian attack inflicted the kind of terror on Moscow that Vladimir Putin’s armed forces have imposed on Kyiv and other Ukrainians cities during the war.
The first of two drones penetrating the Russian capital’s much-vaunted air-defences struck at 3:20am.
It hit the 50-storey IQ Quarter Tower, part of a business district called Moscow City that also includes elite residential apartments and penthouses.
There was a report of two victims injured – a security guard and a 21 -year old woman – but multiple ambulances were at the scene.
The attack reached the heart of Moscow, close to the White House headquarters of the Russian government.
One of the buildings struck by the drones houses the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The office of the Ministry of Digital Development, Telecommunications and Mass Media is also based here, part of Putin’s propaganda edifice.
Government documentation from the ministries was strewn in the street after the attack.
The attacks came as Putin prepared to mark Russian Navy Day in St Petersburg and Kronstadt today along with leaders of countries attending a Russian-African summit.
One video highlights the voices of two women seeing an incoming drone.
‘There it is flying,’ says one.
‘It flies so quick.’
Another video has two more women on Presnenskaya Embankment, one saying: ‘I told you…’
One screams: ‘Ah! Mamochka! [Mummy…]
‘Right next to us a drone hit a building.
‘I filmed it.’
Guests at a Novotel hotel at Moscow City were panicked by the attack.
Another shows a woman in bed as the drone attack is seen from her high-rise window.
A view shows the damaged facade of an office building in the Moscow
Emergencies services members gather outside the damaged office
It was the fourth such attempt at a strike on the capital region this month and third this week
A view of the damaged skyscraper is shown. The attack has fueled concerns about Moscow’s vulnerability to attacks as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its 18th month
Flights were temporarily halted at major Moscow international airport Vnukovo, used by Putin and members of the Russian government, due to the drone strikes.
A source said: ‘Vnukovo airport is closed for arrivals and departures.
‘Flights are being redirected to other airports. One flight is in the waiting area.’
Later the airport was reopened.
Air defences were working in the Odintsovo district.
There were also reports of an intense drone attack on annexed Crimea.
The Russian Defence Ministry said: ‘On the morning of July 30, an attempt of a terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime with unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the city of Moscow was suppressed.
‘One Ukrainian UAV was destroyed in the air by air defence over the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region.
‘Two more drones were suppressed by electronic warfare and, having lost control, crashed on the territory of the Moscow City non-residential building complex.’
It was portrayed as an ‘attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime’.
There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainians.
Moscow routinely downplays attacks by Ukraine in an attempt not to alarm people.
A source said: ‘The glazing was shattered as a result of the blast at the level of fifth and sixth floors of the 50-story building on Presnenskaya embankment.’
TASS reported: ‘There are no casualties and no fire has started.
‘The people are being evacuated. Operational services and law enforcement agencies arrived on the scene.
‘Law enforcement agencies reported that the Air Defence Troops repelled an attack by two aircraft-type drones in the west of Moscow Region.
‘In addition, eyewitnesses report the sounds of an explosion in the west of Moscow.’
In Crimea, the defence ministry claimed that 25 drones had been repelled.
The defence ministry said: ‘Tonight an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by twenty-five aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles on facilities on the territory of the Crimean peninsula has been foiled.
‘Sixteen Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed by air defence fire.
‘Another nine Ukrainian drones were suppressed by electronic warfare and crashed in the waters of the Black Sea and Cape Tarkhankut without reaching their target.
‘There were no casualties or damage as a result of the foiled terrorist attack.’
Photos from the site of the crash showed the facade of a skyscraper damaged on one floor
An investigator examines an area next to the damaged skyscraper
Russian law enforcement officers and emergencies ministry members work at an accident scene near the damaged office building in the Moscow
The Russian Defense Ministry referred to the incident as an ‘attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime’ and said three drones targeted the city
Photos from the site of the crash showed the facade of a skyscraper damaged on one floor
Two more drones struck the Russian capital on Monday, one of them falling in the center of the city near the Defense Ministry’s headquarters along the Moscow River about 2 miles from the Kremlin.
The other drone hit an office building in southern Moscow, gutting several upper floors.
In another attack on July 4, the Russian military said four drones were downed by air defenses on the outskirts of Moscow and a fifth was jammed by electronic warfare means and forced down.
Russia said on Monday it would retaliate harshly against Ukraine after two drones damaged buildings in Moscow, with one strike close to the building where the military holds briefings on what Russia calls its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said at the time there would be more drone strikes.
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