Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has told Vladimir Putin to “get out of Ukraine” and “take that step toward peace” after approving a 40-day offensive to “influence” Russia to end the war.
In a post on X Zelensky wrote: “Russia must get out of Ukraine with its war – we want no war.
“Ukraine has put forward proposals to our key partners, and Putin’s friends have also heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must now take that step toward peace.”
Zelensky said he made the decision of ordering a 40-day offensive after consulting the head of the Ukrainian security service.
It comes after he confirmed that Kyiv’s forces had attacked two more Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500km from the frontline, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 300km from Ukraine, in the latest blow to the rival’s infrastructure.
Meanwhile, France claimed on Thursday that its forces had intercepted a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker, just days after the British Royal Marines stormed a ship in the English Channel.
