RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Putin calls for ‘complete end’ to Ukraine conflict

Russia wants to fully resolve the Ukraine conflict, rather than just agreeing a ceasefire or freezing the hostilities, President Vladimir Putin has said.

The statement came after Putin met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow on Friday. Orban traveled to the Russian capital to discuss ways of finding a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting, Putin stated there should not be a “ceasefire or some kind of pause that the Kiev regime could use to recover losses, regroup, and rearm. Russia is in favor of a complete and final end of the conflict.”

Putin noted, however, that the conflict can only end once a number of conditions are met. Specifically, the Russian leader stressed that Kiev must withdraw its forces from Donbass as well as the former Ukrainian regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, all of which officially became part of Russia after voting in public referendums.

There are other conditions, Putin added, but said that these are a subject for “fairly detailed consideration in the course of possible joint work.”

Previously, Putin proposed an immediate ceasefire on condition that Ukraine agree to a number of terms. These include the aforementioned withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all Russian territories, as well as legally binding guarantees that Kiev would not seek membership in NATO.

Kiev, as well as its Western backers, have rejected the plan, although Putin has nevertheless stated that the offer remains “on the table.” The Kremlin has encouraged the Ukrainian leadership to take time to consider it.

During Friday’s press conference, Orban noted that Moscow’s and Kiev’s positions on the conflict are far apart, and that it will require significant effort to bring an end to the fighting.

Putin suggested that judging by the attitude of the Ukrainian authorities and the current state of affairs, it seems evident that Kiev “is still not ready to give up waging war to a victorious end.”

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Time running out for Ukrainians fleeing Russia's advance

In the devastated eastern Ukrainian town of Toretsk, time is running out for anyone wanting to leave.

Russian forces are advancing slowly but surely, pummelling the town night and day with rockets, artillery fire and air attacks, part of a broad advance in the Donetsk region that Ukraine has been unable to stop.

Piles of rubble lie where buildings once stood, burned out apartment blocks have become unliveable, a church tower has fallen and plumes of smoke rise in the near distance from incoming shells.

In a residential courtyard a group of mainly elderly residents gather to listen to Ivan, a police officer in camouflage fatigues who is trying to convince them to leave Toretsk with his evacuation team.

Hundreds of officers like him and Ukrainian volunteers are trying to do the same in towns and villages along the frontline before they are reduced to rubble and subsumed into territory held by the Russians.

"Are you all staying?" he asked, speaking firmly and quickly. "Can you not see how the situation is changing? If you think you will sit it out - this is not going to happen."

His offer has been taken up by some and turned down by others. Many people who remain do not want to leave for an uncertain life in safer parts of Ukraine. Others refuse to be separated from elderly relatives and friends.

"It is just me that is left, everyone else is buried," said Valentyna, a former school headmistress who gave only her first name. "Planes are flying in every night and attacking, especially the last two days," added the 75-year-old, crying.

'ALL COVERED IN BLOOD'

A woman next to her shouted: "God has given us earth and sky, and they (the Russians) trampled all over it, covered it in blood. It is all covered in blood. And the young boys..."

Some 5,000 people remain in Toretsk, according to Tetyana Nikonova, a representative of the local military administration, speaking as residents wanting to evacuate gathered around minivans with a few personal belongings.

That compares with an estimated population of some 35,000 a decade ago.

"Many people refuse to leave. We talk to them, the boys try to convince them, but they do not want to go," she said. "We offer them all that we can, accommodation, transport, all for free, but people hide in basements."

Oleksandr is going to evacuate, but before he does he and members of the police force release the chickens from their coop in his yard and a dog and goats off their leashes.

Valentyna Natyazhko, 88, fled Toretsk earlier, but is back briefly to collect the refrigerator from her apartment because she needs it in her new home in the nearby town of Kostiantynivka.

"All the food got spoiled there, I had to throw away sausage, mayonnaise, butter," she said. "I came to take this fridge. Fridges are expensive, where will I get money to buy one?"

Sergiy and Iryna, a couple sitting together on a bench outside their apartment, discussed whether or not to leave. Police officers told them to be at the same place the following morning to be collected if they decided to go.

"I worry we will not be able to come back, no one will let us back here," said Sergiy, 65.

"But we will leave, Sergiy Yuriyevych, won't we?" asked Iryna in tears, turning to him and touching his hand.

"We'll leave," he sighed. We'll leave."

RT/Reuters