Russia says capable of taking full control of major Ukrainian cities without external help

Russia says it is capable of taking full control of major cities of Ukraine and possesses enough military might to achieve its planned objectives in the European country without external help, including from China.

“The defense ministry of the Russian Federation, while ensuring the maximum safety of the civilian population, does not exclude the possibility of taking major population centers under full control,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a press conference on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” on February 24, aimed at the “demilitarization” of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, largely populated by ethnic Russians, in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, the two regions – collectively known as the Donbass – declared themselves new republics, refusing to recognize Ukraine’s Western-backed government.

Announcing the operation, Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”

Since the beginning of the operation, the United States and its European allies have described the offensive as Putin’s imperial-style land grab, saying it has so far been poorly executed because the Kremlin underestimated Ukrainian resistance and Western resolve to punish Russia with unprecedented waves of sanctions.

An American official even alleged that Russia had requested support from China – including military equipment – to press forward in its military operation in Ukraine.

Russia has not asked China for military help: Kremlin

The allegation, however, was rejected on Monday by Beijing, which denounced Washington for spreading “disinformation” over China’s role in the conflict.

When asked whether the allegation was true, Peskov also said “No.”

He stressed that the Russian Federation has sufficient military might to achieve all of its objectives in the European country without any help from China.

“Russia possesses its own independent potential to continue the operation. As we said, it is going according to plan and will be completed on time and in full,” the Kremlin’s spokesman stressed.

US: China will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions

The United States says China will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions imposed by Washington and its allies in response to Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine.

‘US proven to fully disregard human life’

He also said claims by Washington and the European Union (EU) that Putin was somehow disappointed with the progress of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine amounted to a provocation that aimed to prompt Russia to storm cities.

According to the Kremlin’s spokesman, the US has shown its complete disregard for human life with the bombing of Yugoslavia and its capital Belgrade in 1999, its wars in the Middle East, including Iraq, and the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

“We don’t need advice from such strategists. All the plans of the Russian leadership will be achieved on time and in full,” Peskov further said, stressing that at the start of the military operation, Putin clearly asked the defense ministry to avoid storming major cities such as Kiev because he thought Ukrainian units would use civilians as human shields.

Russia suspends participation in Council of Europe

Separately on Monday, Russia’s RIA news agency, citing a member of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), reported that the delegation had suspended it participation in the European body and would no longer take part in meetings.

Last week, Russia’s foreign ministry announced that Moscow would stop participating in the council.

Ukraine: Boycott global firms that stay open in Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said on Monday that the pressure of sanctions on Russia has to increase, urging governments across the world to boycott international companies that have kept their operations open in Russia.

“International businesses must leave Russia, both for moral and practical reasons,” Kuleba said, calling for international ports to bar passage to Russian ships and cargo.

'Hard Negotiation': Ukraine, Russia resume peace talks after citing progress

Diplomatic efforts to broker peace between the warring sides in Ukraine have gathered momentum with negotiators from Moscow and Kiev set to resume talks on Monday.

The developments come as the fourth round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, held after both sides hailed progress in earlier rounds despite no considerable breakthrough, was held via video conference on Monday.

Kiev has already said it is willing to negotiate but has refused to surrender or accept any ultimatums.

Meanwhile, fighting rages in the Kiev suburbs as Russian forces make rapid advances toward the capital. Only roads to the south remain open and Kiev is preparing to mount a “relentless defense”, according to the Ukrainian president’s office.

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