MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Strikes on energy facilities in Ukraine are a part of the demilitarization process, because they directly affect the country’s defense industry, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

"First of all, we assume that this is how we affect the defense industry of Ukraine, and affect it directly," Putin said.

He reiterated that Rusisa was ready "for discussions on resolving all issues by other means."

"As I have said many times, we are ready for that," the Russian president said.