Putin Sounds Out Military Commanders on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) during his visit to the joint headquarters of the military branches of the Russian armed forces involved in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Russia, 17 December 2022. (EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) during his visit to the joint headquarters of the military branches of the Russian armed forces involved in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Russia, 17 December 2022. (EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin)
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Putin Sounds Out Military Commanders on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) during his visit to the joint headquarters of the military branches of the Russian armed forces involved in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Russia, 17 December 2022. (EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) during his visit to the joint headquarters of the military branches of the Russian armed forces involved in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Russia, 17 December 2022. (EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin)

President Vladimir Putin has sought proposals from his armed forces commanders on how they think Russia's military campaign in Ukraine should proceed, during a visit to the operation's headquarters, the Kremlin said on Saturday. 

A series of defeats in 10 months of fighting, resulting in Russian withdrawals from areas around the capital Kyiv and Ukraine's second city Kharkiv and most recently from the city of Kherson, have forced Putin to call up reservists and generated rare public criticism from military bloggers and some allies. 

Since the appointment in October of Air Force General Sergei Surovikin to lead the campaign, Russian ground forces have focused more on defense than attack, while waves of air strikes on cities have left millions of Ukrainian civilians without heat, light or water for days on end as winter sets in. 

In video footage released by the Kremlin on Saturday, Putin presided at a meeting of around a dozen people at a circular table, flanked by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov - both of whom have been heavily criticized by hawkish commentators. 

Putin was then shown at the head of another conference table at the joint task force headquarters, inviting suggestions from a row of military commanders. 

"We will listen to the commanders in each operational direction, and I would like to hear your proposals on our immediate and medium-term actions," Putin said. 

Surovikin was also shown attending the meetings in still photographs on the Kremlin website. 

Putin spent the whole of Friday at the task force headquarters, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax news agency. 

No other details of Putin's visit or the location of the headquarters were reported. 



China Says Military Exercises Near Taiwan Punishment for 'Separatism'

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te holds a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan February 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te holds a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan February 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
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China Says Military Exercises Near Taiwan Punishment for 'Separatism'

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te holds a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan February 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te holds a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan February 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

Chinese military exercises near Taiwan on Monday were punishment for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's continued promotion of "separatism", according to a stern statement out of Beijing, as Taiwan hit back by calling China a troublemaker.

China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring democratically governed Taiwan under its control, has stepped up military and political pressure against the island in recent years.

Taiwan's defence ministry said China had carried out "joint combat readiness patrols" - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - sending 54 Chinese warplanes including J-10 jets and drones to areas near Taiwan.

It said the Chinese aircraft flew in airspace to the north, west, southwest and east of Taiwan, and that Taiwanese air and naval forces were dispatched to keep watch, Reuters reported.

Among them, 42 planes crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, an unofficial buffer between the two sides, the ministry said.

If the Lai administration "dares to provoke and play with fire, it will only bring about its own destruction," a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in the statement.

Taiwan routinely reports such military activity by China, but China's government very rarely offers comment on them.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said Beijing had continued to threaten the island militarily, raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and destabilizing regional peace and stability.

The Chinese Communist Party is a "troublemaker" in every sense of the word, the council said, urging ally countries to stop China's military expansion.

Taiwan's security officials have said China was trying to normalize drills near Taiwan, carrying out such patrols near the island every 7-10 days on average.

Lai said last week that China had deepened its influence campaigns and infiltration against the island, pledging measures to tackle Beijing's efforts to "absorb" Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.