Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's statement regarding the capture of the city of Konstantynivka. In his Telegram channel, the Ukrainian leader proposed holding a bilateral meeting in this very settlement if the Russian side truly controls its territory.
The trigger for Kyiv's reaction was a statement from the Kremlin on July 3, which claimed that Russian troops had taken control of Konstantynivka in the Donetsk region. However, the Ukrainian side insists that this information does not correspond to reality.
Challenge to meet in the 'captured' city
Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out that Putin's statement was made on the eve of US Independence Day, which, according to the Ukrainian president, looks like an attempt to deceive the international community and the head of the White House, Donald Trump, about the real situation on the front.
"If Konstantynivka is currently under Russian control, then perhaps Putin will have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war," Zelensky wrote.
The President of Ukraine emphasized that the Russian leadership will not cross the front line for negotiations, as the real situation on the ground differs radically from the official statements from Moscow.
Situation on the front: facts vs. words
The refutation of the Kremlin's version is confirmed by data from the front. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially stated that Konstantynivka is under the full control of the defense forces. No capture of the city by Russian troops has occurred.
The situation is also illustrated by monitoring data. According to the DeepState map, which tracks troop movements in real time, Russian units are near the settlement but do not control its territory. Thus, the statement about the 'capture' is premature and does not reflect the actual situation.
