One cannot exist if other does: Kremlin directly says war on Ukraine is about elimination, not land

US President Donald Trump compared the war in Ukraine to a fight between two children. In response, the Kremlin declared that this war is “existential” for Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says the war is a “matter of the future” for Russia.

“Of course, the US president may have his own view of what’s happening, but for us, this is an existential issue — a matter of our national interests, our security, and the future of ourselves and our children, the future of our country,” he claims.

He adds that Russia does not believe Trump is trying to abandon his mediator role with such remarks. Peskov also says Moscow is grateful to the US for its mediation efforts and emphasized the importance of continued contact with Washington.

The Kremlin also states that the massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine in the early hours of 6 June was in retaliation for Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. That night, Russia launched a combined attack using various types of missiles and strike drones.

In total, Russian forces fired 452 aerial weapons. As a result of Ukraine’s air defense operations, 199 drones and 36 missiles were shot down. The latest Russian assault caused casualties, injuries, and destruction across multiple regions of Ukraine.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, its forces allegedly carried out “precision strikes” against targets in Ukraine’s defense industry and weapons depots. In reality, Ukrainian rescue workers and civilians were among the victims, including a couple in Lutsk who had planned to marry. A Russian missile destroyed their apartment building, obliterating the section from the eighth floor down. The couple was later found under the rubble in the basement.