Putin casts doubt on peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 questioned the value of ongoing peace talks with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of orchestrating deadly attacks on infrastructure in Russia that killed seven people and injured 115 others.

According to Russian investigators, a bridge in Bryansk region was blown up on Saturday just as a passenger train carrying 388 people passed underneath. A second bridge in Kursk was also reportedly targeted. The explosions occurred just days before Ukraine and Russia met in Turkey for the latest round of negotiations.

Putin blamed Ukraine’s top leadership for the attacks, calling them acts of terrorism aimed at civilians. “The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all,” he said during a televised meeting with senior officials. “What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?"

He added that the attacks showed Kyiv is “degenerating into a terrorist organisation, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists."