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Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a proposal for a mutual halt to long-range strikes with Ukraine and warned that Moscow could use nuclear weapons if its territory, including the Kaliningrad exclave, comes under direct attack.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club forum in Moscow on Thursday, Putin dismissed a proposal under which Russia would stop attacking Ukrainian ships if Kyiv halted strikes on Russian oil refineries.
“We are told: ‘Let them stop striking your refineries, and you will stop striking their ships.’ It is simply ridiculous,” Putin said. He also rejected the proposal when asked directly whether Moscow would agree to such a mutual cessation of attacks.
Putin said Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries had affected the Russian economy, while Moscow was responding with strikes on Ukrainian targets. Russia has recently intensified long-range attacks on Ukraine, including strikes on infrastructure in and around Kyiv.
A Russian drone struck a school in Kyiv on Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials. No casualties were reported as students and staff were sheltering at the time.
Putin said Russia remained interested in ending the conflict through negotiations and wanted Ukraine to become a neutral state after the war.
Putin also warned Western countries against escalating tensions over Ukraine, particularly in relation to Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave located between Poland and Lithuania.
He said Russia would use all weapons in its arsenal, potentially including nuclear weapons, if Kaliningrad or other Russian territory were directly attacked.
His remarks came after Russia sent a diplomatic note to NATO warning that Moscow would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the alliance attempted to isolate or blockade Kaliningrad. NATO said it had received the note and has maintained that its activities in the region are defensive.
Putin warned that continued escalation could lead to a dangerous “point of no return”, saying a moment could arrive unexpectedly when the situation could no longer be changed.
Putin also said Western companies could potentially regain assets placed under Russian control if relations improve and a “favourable scenario” emerges.
Russia has placed several European businesses under temporary external administration. Putin said such measures were a response to the seizure of Russian assets in Western countries and indicated that the assets could be returned under improved circumstances.
