Russia-Ukraine war: Why has Putin rejected limits on long-range strikes?

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow will continue its more than four-year-long war on Ukraine, rejecting Kyiv’s proposals to limit the use of long-range missiles and stop hostilities. In an interview with Russia’s state television service on Sunday, Putin said Ukraine had proposed a mutual halt to long-range attacks as a step towards peace. But the Russian president suggested this proposal was made because Kyiv’s forces were under pressure along the 1,250km (775-mile) front line. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list “It is clear why this proposal is being made because our counterstrikes deep into Ukrainian territory are much stronger, have greater impact and are, frankly, more destructive,” Putin said. “Given their catastrophic shortage of personnel, the Ukrainian armed forces apparently believe this could be their salvation. But saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans,” he added. Ukrainian officials have not yet commented publicly on Putin’s remarks — including on the Russian leader’s claims that Kyiv sent a proposal to curb the use of long-range missiles. Putin acknowledged that Russia has had to increase its air defence capacity to counter intensified Ukrainian drone attacks that have targeted Russia’s oil industry in recent months. …