Putin Warns Ukraine Over Zaporizhzhia Strikes as Nuclear Tensions and Regional Power Struggles Rise:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to Ukraine, accusing it of playing a dangerous game by targeting areas near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control. The plant — Europe's largest nuclear facility — has been operating under emergency conditions for over a week, relying solely on diesel generators after losing connection to external power supplies. These generators, designed for short-term use, are not equipped to manage extended operations, raising fears of a potential nuclear incident. Both Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame over the situation. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of deliberately severing the external power supply as a prelude to connecting the plant to its own energy grid. The move, if confirmed, would mark a major escalation in Russia’s attempts to assert control over occupied Ukrainian territories. Amid these developments, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that electricity had been fully restored in parts of the Sumy region, which was hit by overnight Russian attacks. In the Chernihiv region, repair crews are working to restore power to over 300,000 residents after devastating strikes earlier this week. Meanwhile, tensions are also growing between Russia and the United States. Reports suggest the Trump administration’s plan to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine may face logistical hurdles, as existing stockpiles are reserved for U.S. military use. Putin responded by warning that supplying such weapons would trigger a “major escalation” but insisted it would not change the battlefield dynamics. At a speech during the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin also hinted at the possibility of conducting a nuclear test if another nuclear power initiates one, suggesting that signs point to such preparations — though he did not name the country involved. He also reaffirmed his willingness to extend the nuclear arms control agreement with the U.S., but only if Washington reciprocates. In a notable prisoner exchange, Ukraine and Russia swapped 185 soldiers and 20 civilians, a rare moment of cooperation in an otherwise brutal conflict. On the economic front, France recently detained a Russian-operated oil tanker, which President Emmanuel Macron said is part of a broader EU effort to cut off Moscow’s wartime revenues. The Kremlin condemned the move as “hysteria,” while Putin labeled it an act of piracy and warned that oil prices could exceed $100 per barrel if Russian exports are blocked. In Europe, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed strong support for using frozen Russian assets to provide Ukraine with loans, a proposal he expects to be formalized within weeks. Russia slammed the idea as “delusional” and threatened harsh retaliation. Domestically, Russia’s crackdown on dissent continues. Maxim Kruglov, a member of the opposition Yabloko party, faces up to 10 years in prison over Telegram posts criticizing the Russian military’s actions in Mariupol and Bucha. Meanwhile, voters in the Czech Republic are poised to shift power, with polls favoring populist billionaire Andrej Babis, who has pledged to reduce aid to Ukraine and prioritize domestic economic growth.

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