Volodin threatens Ukraine with a new wave of strikes
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has called for strikes against Ukraine using so-called “weapons of retaliation.” According to him, Russian deputies are insisting on escalation of the war. These statements come amid Kremlin talk of an alleged pause in strikes for the sake of “peace talks.” Volodin wrote about this on his Telegram channel.
“Deputies of the State Duma insist on the use of more powerful weapons — ‘weapons of retaliation’ — and on achieving the goals of the special military operation,” Volodin wrote.
In addition, he directly threatened Ukrainians with new problems in the near future. According to the State Duma speaker, responsibility for them allegedly lies with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Starting next week, Ukrainian citizens will face new problems,” Volodin said, without explaining what exactly he meant.
These words were voiced immediately after a statement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The day before, he reported that Moscow had allegedly agreed to suspend strikes on Kyiv until February 1. The Kremlin explained this as a desire to create “favorable conditions” for possible peace negotiations. However, Volodin’s statements send the opposite signal. The rhetoric of the Russian parliament once again boils down to threats, pressure, and open calls for escalation of the war instead of real steps toward ending hostilities.
Such statements fit the familiar practice of the Russian authorities: simultaneously talking about “peace” while publicly demanding even harsher methods of warfare. Kyiv has repeatedly emphasized that precisely such actions by Russia indicate a lack of real intent to end the war through diplomatic means.
