Kathrine Frich
His words came just hours before deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv.
His words came just hours before deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv.
“We Will Place Our Armed Forces Wherever We Want”
Speaking on Russia 1, State Duma member Evgeny Popov declared that Moscow would not be bound by diplomacy or peace talks.
“We will place our Armed Forces wherever we want to, we will do whatever we want based on our interests,” he boasted.
Putin Loyalist Praises Trump for Freezing Out Europe
Popov also praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach, suggesting Washington is cutting Ukraine and Europe out of the process.
He said Trump is “in contact with Orban, but no contact and a total lack of understanding with Europe.”
Trump Threatens Sanctions Against Ukraine
Just days earlier, Trump said Ukraine “was not exactly innocent” in the conflict, adding that he was ready to punish Kyiv with sanctions if it refused to agree to a peace deal.
“It takes two to tango,” he said, signaling pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kremlin Hails Trump’s Tariff Talk as a ‘Sensation’
According to Popov, Trump suggested he could impose sanctions and tariffs not just on Russia, but also on Ukraine.
He described this as a political “sensation,” claiming it showed Trump was more willing to deal with Moscow than with Kyiv.
“Why Do We Have to Explain Anything to Anyone?”
In the same broadcast, Popov dismissed Western concerns outright.
He mocked calls for transparency, saying Russia had no need to justify its actions: “Why do we have to explain anything to anyone?”
Trump at the White House: “If I Can Save That, I Will”
Speaking separately in Washington, Trump said:
“Thousands of young people, mostly young people, are dying every single week. If I can save that, by doing sanctions or by just being me, or by using a very strong tariff system… I will.”
Russian Attack on Kyiv Kills at Least 12, Including 3 Children
Hours after Popov’s broadcast, Russian missiles and drones struck Ukraine’s capital in one of the deadliest assaults in weeks.
Local authorities confirmed at least 12 people killed, including three children aged 2, 14, and 17.
Nearly 600 Drones and 31 Missiles Launched Across Ukraine
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 598 strike drones and decoys, along with 31 ballistic and cruise missiles.
The wave of attacks was one of the largest since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Residential Buildings and Schools Among Targets
Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that missiles struck residential areas, collapsing a five-story apartment building and sparking fires in civilian neighborhoods.
Rescue teams worked through the night to pull survivors from the rubble.
