Putin 'rejects Ukraine peace plan' as US warns of 'significant' air attack on Kyiv
This comes after US troops seized a second Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker in the Caribbean after initially seizing a vessel its forces had been trailing in the North Atlantic
The Kremlin has slammed the latest Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan as Kyiv braces for 'significant' bombardment.
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Vladimir Putin's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed the proposed peace plan "furthered conflict aggravation" by suggesting the deployment of a "multinational force to protect Ukraine.
This comes after US troops seized a second Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker in the Caribbean after initially seizing a vessel its forces had been trailing in the North Atlantic.
The operations, which took place within hours of each other, saw troops board one ship in the North Atlantic and another in international waters near the Caribbean.
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In a statement on Thursday, the Kremlin said: “The document turned out to be extremely far from a peace settlement.
“The declaration is not aimed at achieving lasting peace and security but rather at continuing the militarisation, escalation and further conflict aggravation.
“Its core element is the deployment of ‘a multinational force’ on Ukrainian territory that the coalition will have to form to contribute to the ‘rebuilding’ of the Ukrainian armed forces and ‘support deterrence’ following the cessation of the hostilities.”
The US embassy has now issued a warning to its citizens in Kyiv.
It said they must "prepare to shelter immediately” as a "significant air attack may occur at any time in the next several days".
Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner signed a five-point deal with European leaders in Paris on Tuesday.
The pair then reportedly met with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to discuss.
The deal promises "security guarantees" for Ukraine, including "European-education" military assistance, if Kyiv agrees to terms.
If Ukraine rejects the five-point security package, which Kyiv has demanded, the wider 20-point peace plan could collapse completely.
“The document also includes clauses on further consolidation of Ukraine’s and NATO’s military industrial sectors,” the Kremlin said, in reference to Trump's program that lets European nations buy US weapons to arm Ukraine.
The statement continued: “The new militarist declarations of the so-called Coalition of the Willing and the Kyiv regime are forming a true axis of war.
“Its participants’ plans are becoming increasingly more dangerous and destructive for the future of the European continent and its residents, who are also forced by Western politicians to pay for such ambitions out of their own pockets.”
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Kremlin’s security council, issued another warning to Trump.
He posted an image celebrating the Orthodox Christmas Day with the caption: “Don’t play games with Russia.”