Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a temporary halt to the Russian military operation in Ukraine on Friday afternoon in anticipation of negotiations with Kiev, but the operation resumed Saturday afternoon after the Ukrainian leadership refused to talk, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Yesterday afternoon, in connection with the expected negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership, the Russian president and the supreme commander ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces of Russian troops," Peskov said, speaking to reporters on Saturday. "Since the Ukrainian side practically refused to negotiate, the advance of the main Russian forces resumed this afternoon in accordance with the operational plan," he added.
Peskov clarified that the halt of the advance did not lead to a cessation of local fighting, with hostilities continuing in some areas.
Russia had said yesterday that it proposed to hold negotiations in Minsk, the Belarusian capital. Washington had considered that the Russian proposal could not be considered credible.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said during a news conference that Russia was awaiting the sanctions imposed by the West in response to the invasion and was taking steps to minimise their impact on the economy.
"Then we should develop retaliatory measures," he concluded."
Source: Proto Thema
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