Zelensky reacts to Putin’s statement on Oreshnik strike on Dnipro
21 November 22:38
Today’s ballistic missile launch against Ukraine is yet another proof that Russia definitely does not want peace , Komersant ukrainskyi reports, citing a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Putin hit our city of Dnipro, one of the largest cities in Ukraine. This is an obvious and serious increase in the scale and brutality of this war, a cynical violation of the UN Charter by Russia. And let me emphasize: this is Russia’s second step towards escalation in a year. The first such step was the involvement of North Korea in the war against Ukraine – a contingent of at least 11 thousand soldiers,” the President emphasized.
He emphasized that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin made both of these steps, ignoring everyone in the world who calls for not expanding the war.
“He doesn’t care about what China, Brazil, European countries, America, and all other countries of the world are calling for. Putin is the only one who started this war, an absolutely unprovoked war, and who is doing everything to make the war last for more than a thousand days,” the Head of State summarized.
The President emphasized that today’s ballistic missile against Ukraine was another proof that Russia definitely does not want peace.
“And Putin is lying when he says that the alleged use of long-range weapons by Ukraine has become some kind of a new step. This is not the first time we have used these weapons. And we have every right to do so under international law; our right to self-defense is the same as that of any other nation,” he said.
He also noted that when Russian missiles hit Ukrainian cities, when Iranian Shaheeds attack Ukraine every night, when a contingent from North Korea is deployed on Ukraine’s border, Putin is not only making the war longer, he is “just spitting in the face” of those in the world who really want peace to be restored.
“The world must react to this. Right now, there is no strong reaction from the world. Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners. It is obvious to everyone who is the only culprit in this war, who started this war on February 24 and is investing all his resources to keep the war going. It must be stopped. If there is no tough reaction to Russia’s actions, it means that they see that it is possible. That’s what Putin is doing,” Zelensky said.
He noted that Russia should be forced to make a real peace, which is possible only through force.
“We need Putin to feel the cost of his sick ambitions. We need to react. We need to put pressure. We need to force Russia to a real peace, which is possible only through force. Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats and destabilization, and not only against Ukraine,” the president summarized.
Russia fired an experimental missile at Ukraine
As a reminder, today Russia attacked the Dnipro River. Initially, the Ukrainian Air Force wrote that the occupiers had used an intercontinental ballistic missile.
However, later, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin himself said that Russia had struck the Dnipro region with a medium-range Oreshnik missile system.
He noted that Russia allegedly launched a combined strike on a Ukrainian defense facility in response to the strikes by American and British weapons on Russia.
According to him, the Southern Machine-Building Plant was struck with a non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile.
The Russian dictator emphasized that the Kremlin “considers itself entitled to use weapons against the facilities of those countries that allow the use of their weapons against Russian facilities.”
“Russia’s latest medium-range missile system was tested in combat conditions. In this case, with a non-nuclear missile warhead,” Putin said.
He also predictably stated that the world has no means of countering Russian Oreshnik missiles.
