Russia calls Ukraine war ‘existential’, strikes back

Russian President Vladimir Putin had told U.S. President Trump helium would retaliate for the brazen operation, 18 months successful the planning, successful which Ukraine smuggled much than 100 tiny drones into Russia. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

The Kremlin said connected Friday (June 6, 2025) the Ukraine warfare was “existential” for Russia aft it launched a wave of retaliatory drone and rocket strikes that killed 3 rescue workers successful Kyiv.

The comments are Moscow’s latest to dampen hopes for a breakthrough amid a flurry of meetings betwixt Russian and Ukrainian delegations, arsenic good arsenic telephone calls betwixt President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed astatine stopping the fighting.

On Friday (June 6, 2025) — days aft the 2nd circular of Ukrainian-Russian ceasefire negotiations successful Turkey ended without meaningful advancement — the Kremlin formed its three-year penetration arsenic thing abbreviated of a conflict for the "future" of Russia.

“For america it is an existential issue, an contented of our nationalist interest, safety, our aboriginal and the aboriginal of our children, of our country,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to remarks by Mr. Trump connected Thursday (June 5, 2025) comparing Moscow and Kyiv to brawling children.

Mr. Peskov's comments came soon aft the Russian defence ministry said its forces had launched the "massive" rocket and drone onslaught successful "response" to caller attacks by Kyiv connected its territory.

Ahead of the talks this week successful Istanbul, an audacious Ukrainian drone onslaught damaged nuclear-capable subject planes astatine Russian aerial bases, including thousands of kilometres down the beforehand lines successful Siberia.

Mr. Putin had told Mr. Trump helium would retaliate for the brazen operation, 18 months successful the planning, successful which Ukraine smuggled much than 100 tiny drones into Russia, parked them adjacent Russian aerial bases and unleashed them successful a coordinated attack.

‘A farce’

Despite caller rounds of bid talks, Mr. Putin has repeatedly rejected a ceasefire and has alternatively issued a big of sweeping demands connected Ukraine if it wants to halt the fighting.

They see wholly pulling troops retired of 4 regions claimed by Russia, but which its service does not afloat control, an extremity to Western subject support, and a prohibition connected Ukraine joining NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the demands arsenic aged ultimatums, questioned the intent of much specified talks and called for a acme to beryllium attended by him, Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump.

Kyiv said the retaliatory Russian barrage overnight consisted of 45 missiles and 407 drones. AFP journalists heard aerial raid sirens and explosions ringing retired implicit the superior passim the night.

Mr. Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly said Russia wants the warfare to continue, responded with a telephone for allies to “decisively” ramp up unit connected Russia.

“Are we expected to judge successful a ceasefire aft today?” Alicia, a Kyiv nonmigratory and selling specialist, told AFP near 1 of the onslaught sites successful Kyiv.

“I deliberation it’s a farce, and it was wide from the precise opening that determination would beryllium nary truce. Our enemies are not funny successful this astatine all,” she added.

Mr. Zelensky said astatine slightest 3 radical had been killed successful the superior and that Russia had targeted 9 regions of Ukraine, including Lviv and Volyn successful the west, which borderline EU and NATO subordinate Poland.

In the occidental metropolis of Lutsk, rescuers successful the day pulled the assemblage of a dormant antheral from the rubble of a nine-storey gathering deed overnight, the interior ministry said.

Published - June 06, 2025 10:47 p.m. IST