Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has leveled sharp criticism against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of attempting to deflect responsibility onto Kyiv for the tragic concert hall attack in Moscow that claimed the lives of 133 people.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, Zelensky condemned Putin's remarks regarding the suspects fleeing toward Ukraine, labeling them as a blatant effort to evade accountability. Zelensky asserted, "What happened yesterday in Moscow is obvious: Putin and the other scum are just trying to blame it on someone else."
President Putin had earlier stated in a televised address that the perpetrators of the attack were headed towards Ukraine, insinuating that they were being harbored there. He claimed that indications were suggesting Ukrainian involvement in facilitating their escape.
Kyiv swiftly rebuked Putin's assertions, denouncing them as baseless accusations aimed at deflecting attention away from Russia's internal issues. Zelensky minced no words in condemning Putin's tactics, characterizing him as "low-life" and criticizing his failure to address the Russian citizens affected by the tragedy.
The exchange of accusations between the two leaders comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with the conflict escalating following the Moscow concert hall attack. Zelensky's remarks underscore the deepening rift between the two neighboring countries, which have been locked in a protracted conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine over two years ago.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, Zelensky condemned Putin's remarks regarding the suspects fleeing toward Ukraine, labeling them as a blatant effort to evade accountability. Zelensky asserted, "What happened yesterday in Moscow is obvious: Putin and the other scum are just trying to blame it on someone else."
President Putin had earlier stated in a televised address that the perpetrators of the attack were headed towards Ukraine, insinuating that they were being harbored there. He claimed that indications were suggesting Ukrainian involvement in facilitating their escape.
Kyiv swiftly rebuked Putin's assertions, denouncing them as baseless accusations aimed at deflecting attention away from Russia's internal issues. Zelensky minced no words in condemning Putin's tactics, characterizing him as "low-life" and criticizing his failure to address the Russian citizens affected by the tragedy.
The exchange of accusations between the two leaders comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with the conflict escalating following the Moscow concert hall attack. Zelensky's remarks underscore the deepening rift between the two neighboring countries, which have been locked in a protracted conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine over two years ago.
