Putin Vows 'Worthy Response' to Ukraine's Kursk Offensive
Putin Vows 'Worthy Response' to Ukraine's Kursk Offensive
The Facts
Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed a "worthy response" to Ukraine's offensive that last week swept through Russia's Kursk region and captured dozens of villages, forcing more than 120K people to evacuate.
Speaking to a televised meeting with government officials, Putin said: "One of the obvious goals of the enemy is to sow discord, strife, intimidate people, destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society."
The Spin
Ukraine has only ever wanted peace. But after Putin brought war to its territory, the war is now coming home to Russian territory. This is the only way to force Russia into a peaceful settlement of this conflict.
It's now clear why Ukraine rejected Russia's peace offerings. It wanted to improve its position in negotiations. But how can Russia negotiate with people who indiscriminately strike civilians and civilian buildings?
