The Russian defence ministry lashed out at Europe, accusing it of taking “provocative steps” to disrupt peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. In particular, it claimed Ukraine is using an increasing number of Western-made drones and rockets on Russian civilian targets. This claim, however, comes hours after Ukraine said Russia had launched a “record number” of drones, 355, and nine cruise missiles against its territory during the night between Sunday and Monday. US President Donald Trump voiced his frustration at Russia, saying: “I’m not happy with Putin. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s killing a lot of people.”
This comes as Russia slammed Germany‘s new Chancellor after he said the UK, US, France and his own government had agreed to lifting restrictions previously imposed on Ukraine when using weapons they provided. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev: “If these decisions have indeed been made, they are completely at odds with our aspirations for a political [peace] settlement… These are quite dangerous decisions, if they have been made”.
Friedrich Merz, who replaced Olaf Scholz as Germany’s leader earlier this year, claimed in a TV interview on Monday that the restrictions Western allies of Ukraine had so far imposed on Kyiv when using weapons they provided, including not firing against targets inside of Russia in a bid to prevent further escalation, were no longer in place. He said: “We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine, including militarily. There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine – neither by the British, nor by the French, nor by us, nor by the Americans.” Neither Britain nor Washington or Paris, have publicly addressed the claim made by Mr Merz.
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