In response to the Russian dictator’s complaints, we emphasize that Russia is once again confusing cause and effect, black and white.

The UN General Assembly officially, in a series of resolutions adopted at its 11th extraordinary special session, recognized the Russian Federation as a country committing aggression against Ukraine in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

International law, in particular Article 51 of the UN Charter, clearly provides in such situations for the inalienable right to individual or collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack against a UN member. There are no territorial restrictions on the application of such a right to self-defense.

This means that strikes on legitimate military targets in the Russian Federation are a permitted tool for defense against the aggressor, in particular for the protection of civilians from Russian missile and drone terror. It is also worth noting that the planes were vulnerable to strikes also because they were refueled and armed for another shelling of Ukrainian cities and communities to kill our children, civilians and military personnel.

We would like to emphasize that there can be no equality between Ukrainian and Russian actions. Russia is the aggressor that carried out an illegal and unprovoked attack on our state. Ukraine is a country defending itself from aggression. Therefore, Russian strikes are by definition acts of aggression and terror, and Ukrainian ones are acts of self-defense.

It is also important to note that Ukraine strictly adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law, strikes at legitimate military targets and avoids civilian casualties. In contrast, Russia, on the contrary, strikes mostly at civilians and tries to maximize civilian casualties.

We remind you that Ukraine agreed to a complete and unconditional ceasefire three months ago. This agreement remains relevant. At the same time, Russia stubbornly refuses to cease fire, continues aggression and terror, and makes ultimatums instead of effective steps towards peace.

So Putin should stop whining about Ukrainian strikes on his planes and instead agree to at least a 30-day ceasefire, abandon unrealistic ultimatums, stop hiding from meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and start good-faith negotiations to establish a just and lasting peace. Ukraine is ready for this. Only Russia is stalling for time and looking for excuses to continue the war.