Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow expects to resume direct contacts with the United States of America, and expects a delegation from the US administration to arrive in the Russian capital as soon as Washington reaches an agreement with Tehran on the war in the Middle East.

In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on the Telegram platform, Putin explained that the prospective US officials have already held multiple meetings in Moscow, stressing his country's full readiness to continue dialogue and bilateral negotiations and discuss all the details after the end of the active phase related to the Iranian file.

Russian rejects missile truce initiative

On the Ukrainian issue, the Russian president revealed that Kyiv has submitted a proposal for a mutual halt to long-range attacks as a preliminary step towards peace, but he confirmed Moscow's rejection of the initiative, considering it an attempt to divert attention from Russian military objectives.

In a television interview, Putin explained that Russian strikes reaching deep into Ukrainian territory are "more powerful, effective and destructive" and achieve greater results, stressing that his country does not intend to "save the Kyiv regime," and that the main goal of the operations remains the "complete liberation" of the Donbas and Novorossiya regions, describing the Ukrainian attacks as mere attempts to disperse Russian forces.

Acknowledgement of fuel shortages, emergency in Crimea

In the interview published by the Kremlin, Putin pointed out that the repeated Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure are causing a shortage of oil and fuel supplies inside Russia, saying: "Of course, these strikes on our infrastructure facilities are causing problems, this is obvious, and we are currently suffering from some shortage, but it is not critical."

The recognition came after local authorities in Crimea declared a state of emergency due to severe fuel shortages and power cuts as a result of the targeting of supply chains, as fuel sales to individuals were suspended and several areas witnessed power cuts.

Putin noted that the current priority is focused on strengthening air defense systems and ensuring the continuity of oil supplies, especially to Crimea.

Escalation on the ground , Putin vows to ensure Russia's security

In a speech to the United Russia party congress, Putin vowed to ensure Russia's security and protect its borders in the face of what he described as "terrorist attacks" targeting critical infrastructure.

The speech coincided with a Ukrainian drone attack on the Krasnodar region in southern Russia, which killed one person and caused a fire at a local oil refinery, Governor Vneyamin Kondratiev announced.

Russian strikes on Ukraine have killed at least four people, with Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov announcing that two people were killed and 16 others wounded in shelling that destroyed residential buildings.

Kharkiv governor Oleg Sinyehobov confirmed that one person was killed and eight others, including two children, were wounded in a missile attack on the border town of Zmyev.