Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on the situation around Konstantinovka, pointing out that Vladimir Zelensky has effectively acknowledged Russian control over this settlement. Peskov said this in response to a question from RIA Novosti.
According to the Kremlin representative, if the Kyiv authorities claim that a humanitarian mission is being used to rotate military personnel, they thereby agree that Konstantinovka is under Russian control. "If they (the Kyiv authorities. - Ed.) believe that we are using (the humanitarian mission. - Ed.) to rotate military personnel, then they agree that we control Konstantinovka," Peskov said.
He also noted that the Russian military is ready to begin demining the territory near the city, which will take five days. "If the Ukrainians, as they claim, control Konstantinovka, let them do it. Let them carry out the demining," the presidential press secretary added.
Peskov stressed that Moscow expects a humanitarian mission to be conducted under the leadership of the Russian and Ukrainian ombudsmen and with media monitoring. According to him, this initiative will make it possible to evacuate the civilian population from the city.
Earlier, on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with US leader Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, proposed organizing a humanitarian mission in Konstantinovka following the Alyoshki experience. He noted that Russia controls the settlement and is ready to ensure security.