Russia's dictator Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine had allegedly "opened Pandora's box" by striking Russia's economic infrastructure and threatened to retaliate against the most sensitive sectors of the Ukrainian economy. He said this on August 22, Reuters writes, as reported by UNN.
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This summer, Ukraine intensified its campaign of drone strikes against Russia's economic infrastructure. The targets included oil refineries and warehouses belonging to online retailers. Kyiv says that this infrastructure is of significant importance to Russia's war effort.
In response, Russia carried out strikes on Ukraine's economic infrastructure, including facilities linked to the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
The Kyiv regime sought to damage our economy. What did it do? It opened Pandora's box itself. Well then, expect a response aimed at your most sensitive economic sectors
Putin claimed there was no food shortage
The Russian leader also claimed that the strikes, which created risks for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products, would allegedly not lead to a global food shortage.
According to him, Russia would be able to compensate for Ukrainian supplies on the global market, although Kyiv had also attacked infrastructure linked to the export of Russian grain.
We are indeed facing difficulties with the supply of our goods, but we will resolve these issues. Therefore, there will be no shortage on the global market
Putin also reiterated the Kremlin's position on negotiations to end the war. He said that Moscow was allegedly open to peace talks, but only on the basis of "realities on the ground." At the same time, the Russian leader called the proposals that, according to him, Ukraine had conveyed through intermediaries "exotic."