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Ceasefire proposal rejected at Moscow forum

Vladimir Putin rejected a proposal for a ceasefire with Ukraine on long-range strikes on Thursday, saying Russia was responding, during the Valdai political forum in Moscow. The Russian leader said Kyiv’s attacks on Russian refineries and energy facilities were inflicting economic damage on the country, and that Moscow would not make a unilateral move in exchange for halting the strikes.

Putin’s remarks came after a meeting on September 22 in New York between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky had said Kyiv was ready to stop targeting Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities if Moscow ended its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The Russian president argued that Ukraine had achieved some of its goals with these strikes. Putin said the damage to Russian oil refineries was costing the country 1% of GDP, and added that Moscow was now responding in kind.

Intensifying airstrikes and drone hits school in Kyiv

In recent months, Russia has stepped up its long-range strikes, targeting steel companies in Ukraine and, in particular, supply chains in the rail sector. Ukraine, meanwhile, accuses Moscow of deliberately striking civilian sites and keeping the capital under near-constant alert as winter approaches.

According to Kyiv city officials, a Russian drone hit a school in the capital on Thursday. No casualties were reported because students and school staff were in shelters at the time.

  • Russian attacks are increasingly targeting energy, industry and transport links.
  • The Ukrainian side says civilian areas are also being hit.

Kaliningrad warning and message on Western assets

Putin said Russia preferred to end the war through negotiations and wanted Ukraine to be a neutral country after the fighting ends. He also issued a sharp warning to the West over Kaliningrad, the Russian territory between Poland and Lithuania.

Putin said Western countries should not escalate tensions, adding that if there were a direct attack on Kaliningrad or the Russian Federation, all of Russia’s available tools, including nuclear weapons, could come into play. The remarks followed a diplomatic note this week from NATO warning Russia that the nuclear option could be considered if the alliance attempted to sever the Baltic exclave’s links.

Putin also said that if a more favorable scenario emerged, Moscow could return the Western company assets it has seized. Russia moved last month to take over businesses and assets belonging to Nestle, Auchan, the former Leroy Merlin chain and Metro.

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