Russia’s Putin rules out ceasefire with Ukraine during speech in Moscow

Vladimir Putin ruled out a ceasefire with Ukraine regarding long-range strikes as Russia escalates its aerial attacks on Kyiv. He dismissed the idea that stopping strikes on Russian refineries would lead to halting attacks on Ukrainian ships. Putin expressed Russia's preference to end the conflict through negotiations and hopes Ukraine becomes a neutral country after hostilities cease. Russia has intensified strikes on Ukrainian industrial targets, including steel companies and rail supply chains, and a Russian drone hit a school in Kyiv without casualties.