Russia struck Ukrainian Odesa and other Ukrainian cities with up to 73 Shahed drones following a diplomatic event in Istanbul in which President Vladimir Putin was invitedto meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The drones hit apartment blocks and non-military targets.
Putin refused the invitation to visit Istanbul and instead sent a delegation of low-level diplomats. Neither Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was present. Ukraine sent a delegation that was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. President Zelensky did however visit Istanbul and he was accompanied by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
Before the attacks on Odesa, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova held a press conference in which she mocked the diplomatic invitation in what appeared to be a drunken performance. A rough translation of her speech is provided below.
“If you’re asking what we’re doing, then we’re doing what we’ve always done: we’re defending peace, truth, and justice. We’re not the ones who started this war—we’re the ones trying to stop it. And the West… the collective West… is doing everything to destroy not only Russia, but the world order that guarantees sovereignty and dignity to independent nations, (drunken rambling). If you think we’ll retreat, or that we’ll just accept your ultimatums, you’re mistaken. We know what’s at stake, and we’re prepared for all scenarios. The Russian people have always stood strong in difficult times—and we will again.”
Newsroom
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