Kremlin vows to respond to Ukrainian attacks, labels Kyiv a 'terrorist regime'

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia would respond to Ukraine’s recent attacks at a time deemed appropriate by its military, accusing Kyiv of engaging in state-sponsored terrorism. 

The statement comes in the wake of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military air bases in Siberia and the far north, as well as alleged sabotage of railway infrastructure that left seven people dead.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking at a daily press briefing, reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s comments from the previous day regarding the destruction of rail bridges in southern Russia.

“The president called the Kyiv regime a terrorist regime, stating that its leadership had deliberately ordered the bombing of a passenger train. That constitutes state-level terrorism,” Peskov said.

No evidence has been presented publicly to confirm that Ukrainian leadership ordered the attacks, and Kyiv has not taken responsibility.

The escalation in cross-border attacks, combined with ongoing Russian offensives, has further strained peace efforts. Although both sides resumed low-level talks in Turkey last month, meaningful progress appears unlikely in the current climate.

Peskov also confirmed that President Putin recently spoke with former U.S. President Donald Trump, and during the conversation, reiterated Moscow’s position that it reserves the right to retaliate. However, no plans were discussed regarding a potential in-person meeting between the two leaders.

“There is a shared understanding that such a meeting is needed, but it requires thorough preparation,” Peskov noted.

When asked, he added that the issue of lifting sanctions on Russia was not part of the conversation.