Temporary silent period with no fire, to assist residents of Alyoshki – Ukraine’s response to Melania Trump’s initiative
Including Peskov’s briefing:
MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr combat engineers defused more than 300 Ukrainian army explosives and mines near Alyoshki in the Kherson Region over the week, the Defense Ministry reported.
According to its statement, the Ukrainian army is remotely laying mines on access routes to Alyoshki to prevent the evacuation of civilians and block the delivery of medicine.
TASS has compiled the Russian Defense Ministry’s key statements.
Shelling of Alyoshki
– For more than two years, the Kiev regime has been shelling the roads leading to the town of Alyoshki in the Kherson Region daily and extensively using drones to destroy vehicles, the Defense Ministry reported.
– According to its statement, in the last week alone, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out 18 artillery strikes and attacked the town and the main roads leading to it with drones more than 120 times.
Remote mining, explosive ordnance disposal
– Ukrainian servicemen are using drones to remotely mine access roads to Alyoshki in order to prevent the evacuation of civilians and block the delivery of food, medicine, and other essential goods to the town, the Defense Ministry noted.
– Every day, Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr conducts engineering reconnaissance and defuses Ukrainian explosives and booby traps on the main access routes to Alyoshki, the ministry pointed out.
– Over the past week, Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr combat engineers defused more than 300 explosives and mines near the town, the Russian military specified.
On situation in Alyoshki
– On September 21, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the humanitarian situation in Alyoshki as critical.
– Due to shelling and drone attacks from Kiev, it is impossible to deliver either food or medicine to the town.
– On September 1, Russian forces attempted to break through the Alyoshki blockade to deliver aid to the population. However, Ukrainian militants fired on the convoy, almost completely destroying the cargo, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik reported.
– Four vehicles loaded with ten tons of food were attacked at the entrance to the city.
– Residents of nearby settlements on the left bank of the Dnieper River tried to deliver food to Alyoshki, but the Ukrainian armed forces prevented them from doing so, Svetlana Popova, an evacuated resident of the city, told TASS.
MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Agreements on a humanitarian operation in Alyoshki in the Kherson Region, a decision on the resumption of trilateral talks on Ukraine, and the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Serbia were among the key topics of Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov’s Monday briefing.
TASS has summarized the Kremlin spokesman’s key statements.
On the president’s schedule
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with Gazprombank Board Chairman Andrey Akimov on Monday.
The president continues his preparations for the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit and the third Russia-Africa summit, both of which will take place this week.
The Russian leader is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of these forums.
On Ukrainian settlement
The decision on resuming trilateral talks “does not imply any restrictions on combat operations.”
Russian forces continue delivering massive strikes on Ukraine’s defense sector: “Our armed forces are continuing the special military operation, delivering massive and sustained strikes against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, as well as military and military-related targets.”
The territorial issue may, in one way or another, become a subject of discussion during efforts to reach a peace settlement on Ukraine: “All these issues may, in one way or another, become a subject of discussion during efforts to reach a peace settlement.”
A serious discussion covering every little detail is needed to settle the conflict in Ukraine: “A very serious discussion lies ahead, one that involves a vast number of details.”
Russia will not publicly discuss details of Ukraine settlement talks as it may get in the way of the potential peace process: “We would prefer not to discuss these details in public, as we believe it would undermine a potential future peace process.”
On agreement on humanitarian operation in Alyoshki
Agreements on a humanitarian operation in Alyoshki could serve as a precedent for missions in other areas: “For humanitarian purposes, absolutely. Especially when it comes to a direct, very positive, and coordinated involvement of the American side, American negotiators, and US First Lady Melania Trump in the process. We highly appreciate these efforts, and, of course, this could set a precedent.”
Russia hopes that Kiev will fulfill all agreements regarding the humanitarian mission in Alyoshki: “We would like to hope that the Ukrainian side will fulfill all the agreements that were reached with the direct participation of American negotiators representing Melania Trump.”
On results of the presidential election in Brazil
Moscow welcomes Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil’s presidential election: “We welcome Mr. Lula’s victory.”
Lula da Silva is doing a great deal to develop cooperation with Russia, both bilaterally and on the international stage more broadly: “He is doing a great deal not only to develop bilateral relations, but also to advance processes within BRICS and other organizations, as well as cooperation with Russia on the international stage.”
Moscow hopes these processes will continue: “We hope all these processes will continue in the future.”
On results of the parliamentary elections in Serbia
Moscow highly values the contribution that former Serbian President and Serbian Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vucic has made to the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Serbia: “We acknowledge the results of the elections held in Serbia. We highly value the contribution that Vucic has made to the development of our bilateral relations.”
Moscow hopes that Vucic will continue playing a role in the development of bilateral relations with Russia, even in opposition: “We know that Mr. Vucic will remain active in politics and we hope that, even in opposition, he will continue to contribute to the development of bilateral relations [between Serbia and Russia].”
Russia will continue doing everything it can to foster the development of relations with Serbia: “For our part, we intend to continue to do everything possible to promote the development of our relations with Belgrade, but, as you know, it takes two to tango.”
Russia hopes that the new political force coming to power in Serbia will understand that cooperation with Moscow is beneficial for Belgrade: “When it comes to the new political force that will come to power as a result of the elections [in Serbia], we would like to express the hope that its actions will also be constructively aimed at further developing relations [with Russia]. And that these new political forces will understand that cooperation with Russia is in Serbia’s interest because it brings benefits to Serbia. It is, first and foremost, advantageous for Serbia.”
On the IWF decision
Russia welcomes the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) decision to hold the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships in Moscow, viewing it as an important step toward depoliticizing sports: “Of course, we welcome such decisions. This is a very important step toward depoliticizing sports.”
“Russia must return to the global sporting community as a full-fledged member, because this community cannot function fully without Russia’s participation.”
The question of bidding to host the Olympics in Russia again is not currently on the agenda: “One must weigh all the pros and cons when making such decisions, of course. For now, this issue is not on the agenda.”