Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine's leadership of orchestrating deliberate attacks on civilians, describing them as part of a broader strategy to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations and distract from major battlefield setbacks.

During a meeting with Russian officials on Wednesday, Putin said the Ukrainian government, unable to achieve its military objectives, has turned to violent provocations.

"Today, against the backdrop of enormous losses, retreating along the entire line of combat contact, and trying to intimidate Russia, the Kiev leadership has moved on to organizing terrorist acts," he stated.

The Russian leader cited attacks in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, including the bombing of a bridge that killed seven civilians and injured more than 100.

Investigators say the strike coincided with a passing passenger train. A second incident reportedly occurred in Kursk, an area Putin claimed had already seen "absolutely senseless and huge losses" among Ukrainian forces.

⚡️Comitato Investigativo russo accusa esplicitamente l'#Ucraina per gli attacchi terroristici dello scorso fine settimana nelle regioni di #Kursk e #Bryansk contro ponti ferroviari, che hanno provocato diverse vittime.#Russia #terrorismo pic.twitter.com/o3be5ptAQ9

— Notizie al contrario (@not_contro) June 4, 2025

Sabotaged talks

Putin argued that the timing of these attacks was no accident. He believes they were designed to derail the second round of peace talks held in Istanbul earlier this week.

"All the crimes that were committed against civilians, including women and children, on the eve of the next round of the peace talks we proposed in Istanbul, were certainly aimed at disrupting the negotiation process. The strike was inflicted on the civilian population intentionally," he said.

Putin didn't mince words in condemning Ukraine's political establishment. "Today's Kiev regime does not need peace at all. Peace for it most likely means the loss of power," he said. "The authorities in Kiev are completely rotten and corrupt."

Read more: Ukraine missile disadvantage grows, as Russia ramps up attacks

In the first round of peace talks on May 16, Russia presented a memorandum demanding Ukraine withdraw from four occupied regions, recognize Russia’s territorial gains, abandon its NATO bid, reduce its military, and grant Russian language official status.

Ukraine rejected these terms, instead proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, the return of deported children, and a large-scale prisoner exchange.

While both sides agreed to swap at least 1,000 prisoners each, no progress was made on core political or territorial issues.