Sat Jun 21 16:32:02 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**The Hindu: World Affairs – Indian Perspective**
**Kyiv, Ukraine – June 21, 2025** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of disorganization and disrespect towards its own soldiers, alleging that Moscow has returned the bodies of Russian soldiers to Ukraine, claiming they are Ukrainian. The accusation comes amidst ongoing exchanges of war dead between the two nations, a rare tangible outcome of stalled peace talks in Istanbul.
Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine had received the bodies of at least 20 Russian soldiers, one with a Russian passport, during recent exchanges. He condemned Moscow’s alleged attempt to pass off the bodies as Ukrainian, stating, “They threw the corpses of their citizens at us. This is their attitude toward war, toward their soldiers.”
Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia’s commitment to the peace talks, suggesting that Moscow may be using them as a ploy to appease the United States and avoid further sanctions, while continuing the war. He also reiterated Ukraine’s opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, citing its military partnership with Russia and the use of Iranian-made drones in attacks against Ukraine. He noted a positive aspect in the weakening of Iran’s production capacities, but warned it may be too late.
Highlighting the urgent need for increased sanctions, Zelenskyy pointed out that 39 Russian companies involved in the production of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile are not currently sanctioned, despite the missile’s use against Ukraine in November.
In a positive update, Zelenskyy dispelled rumors of the destruction of Patriot air defense systems and announced that Ukraine has begun using domestically produced interceptors to shoot down Shahed drones, seeking German financing to ramp up production. He also mentioned a request for Western partners to contribute 0.25% of their GDP to support Ukraine’s local defense industry.
While stopping short of meeting with former US President Trump, Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukrainian officials provided the U.S. Treasury Secretary with a list of weapons Ukraine hopes to purchase, including Patriot systems, which he intends to discuss with Trump in a future meeting.
Finally, Zelenskyy signaled a desire for renewed diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the need for greater certainty and pressure from the international community on Russian President Vladimir Putin. He indicated he would likely attend a NATO summit later this week, with a final decision to be made on Monday.
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