Putin vows to persist with strikes in Ukraine, ignoring West

Kremlin said Thursday it’s up to Ukraine’s president to end conflict in country, suggesting terms that Kyiv has repeatedly rejected, while Russian President Vlimir Putin vowed to press on with fighting despite Western criticism.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "(Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy knows when it may end, it may end tomorrow if he wishes so.”

Peskov spoke Thursday as Russia freed American basketball star Brittney Griner in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, as U.S. released a Russian arms dealer. Griner's case h become a major inflection point in U.S.-Russia diplomacy amid deteriorating relations prompted by Ukraine war.

Kremlin has long said that Ukraine must accept Russian conditions to end fighting, which is now in its tenth month. It has demanded that Kyiv recognizes Crimea — a Ukrainian peninsula which Moscow annexed in 2014 — as part of Russia and also recognizes or land gains me by Moscow.

Zelenskyy and or Ukrainian officials have repeatedly rejected those conditions, saying war will end when occupied territories are retaken or Russian forces leave m.

Putin recognized Wednesday that fighting in Ukraine “could be a lengthy process.” He described Moscow's land gains as “a significant result for Russia,” saying Sea of Azov “has become Russia’s internal sea.”

During a conference call with reporters, Peskov said Moscow wasn’t aiming to grab new lands. But he ded that Russia will make efforts to regain control of areas in Ukraine it withdrew from just weeks after incorporating m in hastily called referendums — which Ukraine and West reject as illegal shams. Last month, Russian troops left city of Kherson and parts of Kherson region, one of four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions.

“re are occupied territories in several new regions of Russian Federation that need to be liberated,” Peskov said.

Putin vowed Thursday to achieve declared goals in Ukraine regardless of Western reaction.

“It’s enough for us to make a move and re is a lot of noise, chatter and outcry all across universe,” Putin said. “It will not obstruct us from fulfilling combat tasks.”

He described a series of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities and or key infrastructure as a legitimate response to a bombing attack on a key bridge linking Crimea with Russia’s mainland, and or attacks Kremlin said were carried out by Ukraine. Putin also cited Ukraine’s move to halt water supplies to areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia.

“re is a lot of noise now about our strikes on energy infrastructure,” Putin said at a meeting with soldiers whom he decorated with country’s top medals. “Yes, we are doing it. But who did start it? Who did strike Crimean bridge? Who did blow up power lines linked to Kursk nuclear power plant?”

Putin particularly praised Russian air force’s performance as “highly efficient.”

“ air force has done very well,” he said. “It has contributed significantly to efficiency of army’s action.”

Heavy fighting continued Thursday, mostly in regions annexed by Russia. Zelenskyy's office said 11 civilians were killed and a furr 17 wounded in Ukraine on Wednesday.

Donetsk region has been epicenter of recent fighting. Russian artillery attacks struck center of town of Yampil, norast of Sloviansk, during distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians, Ukrainian officials said.

Buildings in city center, in dition to market and bus station, were damaged in city of Kurakhove, some 35 kilometers west of regional capital, Donetsk, officials said.

More than ten cities and villages in region were under shelling, including town of Bakhmut, which has remained in Ukrainian hands during war despite Moscow’s goal of capturing entire Donbas region bordering Russia.

In or developments:

— International Committee of Red Cross announced Thursday that its representatives visited Ukrainian prisoners of war on Russian side. International observers were previously not permitted access to see m.

“Last week, ICRC conducted a two-day visit to Ukrainian prisoners of war, and anor one is taking place this week. At same time, visits to Russian prisoners of war took place,” organization said in a statement. Red Cross checked prisoners' conditions, gave m books, personal hygiene products, blankets and warm clos, and contacted ir relatives.

“We can check how prisoners of war are being treated and give ir families latest information. I expect se visits to initiate more regular access to all prisoners of war,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric, without commenting or providing details on treatment of prisoners.

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