Russia has again postponed the "deadline" for capturing Donetsk region - now the final deadline is set for December 31. Ukraine has repeatedly offered Russia to hold negotiations on ending the war, but Russia refuses. Therefore, there must be as many obstacles as possible to the desire to continue fighting. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address, reports UkrInform.
Details
"Russia continues its precisely terrorist war against Ukraine, against Ukrainians. Of course, we will respond to Russia for all these strikes in a completely fair manner. And we are doing it in such a way that the system of the Russian state and Russia's ability to prolong the war suffer first and foremost. Putin can talk as much as he wants on TV that he supposedly controls everything, that gasoline supposedly exists, and that Russian ministers are supposedly competent enough. But the Russians themselves, standing in lines for gasoline in various regions of Russia, actually see that their 'three-day war' has been going on for the fifth year in such a way that even the oil state, the 'gas station,' as Russia was called, now has a gasoline shortage. This is a direct consequence of the war. One of the consequences. And one example of how Ukraine responds. Precisely. Not in a terrorist way," Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that Ukraine is returning the reality of war to Russia and making the continuation of the occupation of our land as difficult as possible.
"Our Ukrainian plan of long-range sanctions is being implemented, and medium-range sanctions are also being implemented. We discuss everything in detail with the military commanders, with the Security Service of Ukraine, with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, and our intelligence services. We constantly discuss, promptly responding to the real situation – we adjust our long-range work, our medium-range activity. We provide Ukraine with the results needed so that the aggressor state cannot keep the war 'somewhere over there.' Everyone who seeks to destroy the life of another people suffers themselves. We protect life," Zelenskyy added.
According to him, he hears reports every day, including regarding Donetsk region, where the most Russian assaults occur.
"But it is enough to state just one fact: since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Russian army has already been given 15 deadlines for capturing our Donetsk region. The political leadership of Russia is constantly obsessed with Donbas. They have had this delusion 15 times – that they will completely capture Donbas.
In 2022, there were deadlines until March 31, then until May 9, until June 1, until September 15, until December 31.
In 2023, Putin set two other deadlines for capturing Donbas: until March 1, and then – when it didn't work out again – they postponed it to December 31.
2024 – again two such deadlines.
In 2025, when the Russians tried to convince President Trump that Ukraine would supposedly fall, there were already three deadlines – final dates for capturing Donetsk region, namely: until September 1, until December 1, and until December 25.
And already this year, the Russians again postponed the date for capturing Donetsk region. Initially, they had until March 31 this year, then until September 1, and now the final deadline is set – until December 31," the head of state noted.
The President stated that if Russia does not end its war, they will have to postpone this final deadline again.
"If Putin wants to sacrifice another million of his soldiers to keep hitting this wall, then the million Russians who have not yet been mobilized into the Russian army and are arguing in lines for gasoline should think about what awaits them next. We have already given all proposals to end this war, and Russia refuses every time. On the eve, Russia's clear desire to fight was voiced again. Therefore, there must be as many obstacles as possible to the desire to continue fighting," the President summarized.
Reminder
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Constitution Day, June 28, noted successful strikes on Russian oil refineries. In particular, the "Slovyansky" refinery in the Krasnodar Krai, located 300 km from the front line, was hit.