Russia avoids strikes on Ukrainian leaders to preserve political settlement, Putin says

Speaking to reporters following the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin addressed whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials enjoy a form of "immunity" from Russian strikes, claiming that Moscow conducts no such targeting.

According to him, the Kremlin operates on the premise that it will require Ukrainian government representatives who are prepared to "resolve issues through political channels".

At the same time, the Russian dictator reiterated his standard grievance that Ukraine and the West seek to "bring Russia to its knees" and inflict a "strategic defeat."

Putin also characterized potential strikes against leadership figures as a "bid for terrorism," claiming that should such developments occur, Moscow would determine how to retaliate.

The Russian dictator earlier labeled Zelenskyy's statements concerning the risks of flying through Russian airspace as "state terrorism." He also asserted that peace negotiations to end the war remain frozen, while revealing that Russian forces have been instructed to prepare massive strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.