Putin says Russia received proposal to limit military action to four regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a proposal to limit its military campaign in Ukraine to four fronts.

In an interview with state TV on Sunday, Putin revealed Moscow had received a proposal to confine its special operations to Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

Regarding intensified Ukrainian drone attacks and Russian retaliation, Putin said the new proposal also calls for the two sides to refrain from long-range strikes deep inside each other's territory.

The Russian leader, however, explained that retaliatory strikes carried out by the country's missile forces on targets deep inside Ukraine were "much more powerful and sensitive" than the enemy's strikes which aim to divert attention.

“We do not exclude the possibility of attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, unexpected, as the enemy believes, unexpected for us, diversionary attacks with limited tasks by special forces and with the aim of diverting our attention and our forces from solving the main task -- the final liberation of Donbas and
Novorossiya,” he said.

“It is clear why this proposal is being made, because our counter-strikes deep into Ukrainian territory are much stronger, have greater impact and are, frankly, more destructive,” Putin asserted.

Russia restricts fuel sales in Crimea after Ukrainian strikes

Russia has restricted fuel sales and introduced rationing in Crimea amid an energy supply shortage after Ukrainian forces strike Russian oil refineries.

The Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have triggered a fuel shortage in various regions of the country.

Putin said the Russian nation is coping well with fuel supply problems linked to the Ukrainian ​strikes.

He pointed out that Russia needs to boost its air defense system to defend itself against the Ukrainian drone attacks aimed mainly ‌at ‌its oil industry.

He described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's threat to remove the border signal relay stations in Belarus as “concerning”.

“But this doesn't cause any panic on the part of President Lukashenko. He's approaching this very calmly, balanced, and measuredly.”

The Russian leader also said contacts on negotiations over the Ukraine war are still ongoing and the Kremlin is waiting for the arrival of US representatives after the "hot phase" of the US-Israeli war on Iran ends, reaffirming Moscow’s readiness to continue peace talks with the United States.

He said that last year, during the Alaska summit, he and US President Donald Trump had discussed possible ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but no agreement was signed.

“But we discussed certain possibilities for ending the conflict in Ukraine. We were asked to accept the compromises formulated by American negotiators. Well, we agreed,” Putin confirmed.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in 2022 to stop NATO's encroachment on Russian-speaking areas east of Ukraine by the pro-Nazi Zelensky regime.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir