Putin's Mixed Messages: Vows Intensification in Ukraine Amid Calls for Peace on Russian Terms

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to intensify military strikes on Ukraine in response to a deadly attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, which resulted in at least 25 deaths and over 100 injuries. Putin labeled the incident a "terrorist attack" and accused Ukraine of targeting civilian areas. The escalation follows a series of New Year's Day attacks across Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories, including the death of a teenager in Odesa and damage to a historical museum in Lviv. Despite the intensifying conflict, Ukrainian officials seldom admit to strikes on Russian soil.