Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine was deliberately hindering talks aimed at ending the 4 1/2-year-old war and accused Kyiv of interfering in Russia’s parliamentary election.
Putin Criticizes Ukraine’s Political Situation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine has ‘long degenerated into a dictatorship.’ This statement comes in the context of Ukraine not holding a new presidential election, following the expiration of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s mandate. Putin’s comments reflect ongoing tensions regarding Ukraine’s political stability and governance.
ELECTION ONGOING Russians began voting on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election that Putin has said will show that millions of people back his army fighting in Ukraine, even though most anti-war candidates were not allowed to run. Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials say no election can be held in their country while a state of emergency, in place since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, remains in effect.
Kyiv derides the Russian vote as a “pseudo election” with the result never in doubt.
