Russia says next talks are possible soon — if Ukraine does not strike at airfields

Ukraine and Russia during talks in Istanbul on 2 June. Photo: Getty Images

First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Chepa said that a third round of talks with Ukraine is possible by the end of June, but on condition that Kyiv refrains from new attacks on Russian airfields.

He said this in an interview with Russian journalists.

According to him, a new round of talks will take place if «the events of the last two days do not repeat themselves» — among them, Oleksii Chepa mentioned the collapse of bridges in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, which he called «terrorist attacks», and «an attempted attack on strategic aviation airfields».

Advertising

«I believe that it will not be long in coming and will be passed by the end of June. But on the condition, of course, that the events of the last two days do not happen again - I mean, of course, the terrorist attacks in the Bryansk and Kursk regions and the attempt to attack strategic aviation airports. And, of course, we'll see how the ceasefire is observed in certain areas of the frontline — I think this will largely determine not only the timing of the third round, but also its content,» said Oleksii Chepa.

Special operation «Pavutyna»

As a reminder, the special operation «Pavutyna», which resulted in the downing of 41 Russian strategic aircraft by the Security Service of Ukraine, had been in the works for over a year and a half.

Later, journalist Yurii Butusov disclosed the details of the SSU operation, noting that the agents had entered the territory of the Russian Federation.

The SSU estimates the value of the destroyed Russian strategic aircraft at Russian airfields at seven billion dollars.

After the large-scale SSU attack on Russian airfields, the first satellite images of the long-range aviation base «Belaia» in Irkutsk region were published online. The images show significant damage and destruction of Russian warplanes.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that successful Ukrainian operations, such as the recent «Pavutyna», should make Russia think about the diplomatic route.