Putin shows readiness for peace talks and Zelensky announces the use of the first Ukrainian ballistic missile

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine made the resumption of peace talks more difficult by carrying out drone attacks during the Russian Duma elections, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his army used for the first time a locally developed ballistic missile.

Putin said at the Valdai Dialogue Club in Moscow in front of an international audience that Moscow was ready to resume negotiations on Ukraine on September 21, the day after the Duma elections.

He continued that more than 1,600 drones were launched into Moscow, and noted that polling centers in other regions of Russia were under constant attack.

Putin added that Ukraine was wrong in betting on the success of the attacks against Russia.

“The enemy expected our society to disintegrate, but anyone can make a mistake,” he said.

The Kremlin leader explained that Russia remained ready to enter into negotiations and end them as quickly as possible.

He added: "But, certainly, on terms that are also acceptable to the Russian Federation and the Russian people."

However, Kiev, its Western allies and observers strongly doubt that Moscow is genuinely willing to participate in the talks.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that the Ukrainian army used for the first time in the war against Russia a locally developed FB-7 tactical ballistic missile.

"First combat mission. Thank you for this result," Zelensky wrote in a post on social media.

He added that the next task is to increase missile production. Zelensky did not specify the target, but he posted a video of a missile launch at night.

The Ukrainian defense company Firepoint had postponed on several previous occasions the first combat use of its ballistic missile.

The company's management had initially announced that the first missile strikes on the Russian capital, Moscow, would be carried out in the middle of the year.

A few days ago, the company, which is said to be linked to Zelensky's inner circle, backed down from its previous date and announced that the first use of the missile would take place later in the year.

Putin: Russia does not intend to launch strikes on Western companies supplying weapons to Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia does not intend to launch strikes on Western arms suppliers that produce military equipment for Ukraine, but described the situation as a threat that Moscow is monitoring.

During a speech he delivered before the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow in the presence of an international audience, Putin explained that the greatest threat is Western countries providing Ukraine with satellite data to carry out attacks on Russia.

His statements came after Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian National Security Council, threatened to launch direct strikes on military production facilities in Germany.

Putin added: "We do not threaten anyone, and we do not intend to attack anyone - neither in 2029, nor in 2030, nor in 2050."

The Russian President has repeatedly denied accusations made by Germany and other European Union countries that Russia intends to attack a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Before launching its massive invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin also repeatedly stressed that it had no intention of attacking its smaller neighbour.

"But if we are exposed to aggression, we will have to respond," Putin continued.