RUSSIAN PRESIDENT SAYS MOSCOW IS OPEN TO NEGOTIATIONS BUT WILL ASSESS ITS INTERESTS AS WAR CONTINUES
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that proposals for a settlement to the war in Ukraine remain under consideration, while stressing that Moscow will assess any agreement against what it considers to be in Russia’s interests.
Speaking to Russian journalists on Friday, Putin said Moscow had been prepared to resume negotiations with Kyiv following Russia’s parliamentary elections. He accused Ukraine of carrying out attacks against Moscow and Russian polling stations, describing them as provocative actions. Those claims were presented by Putin and were not independently established in the Reuters report.
PEACE PROPOSALS REMAIN OPEN
Putin said the various proposals for ending the conflict remained available for discussion, indicating that negotiations were still possible.
However, he also said Russia would need to consider its response to what he described as Ukrainian provocations before determining how to proceed.
The comments come as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue, while fighting and long-range attacks between Russia and Ukraine remain ongoing.
MOSCOW AND KYIV FACE CONTINUED PRESSURE
Putin’s remarks come amid continued attacks on both sides. Recent Russian strikes have caused deaths and infrastructure damage in Ukraine, while Ukrainian attacks have targeted sites inside Russia, according to recent reporting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also continued to call for negotiations while seeking international support for Ukraine’s security and defence needs.
NEGOTIATIONS REMAIN UNCERTAIN
Putin’s comments leave open the possibility of renewed negotiations, but they also underscore the significant differences that remain between Moscow and Kyiv.
The Russian president’s position is that any settlement must take Russia’s interests into account, while Ukraine has continued to seek an end to the fighting alongside security guarantees and protection of its sovereignty.
With military operations continuing alongside diplomatic contacts, the prospects for a renewed negotiating process remain dependent on whether the two sides can bridge their differences over the terms of a potential settlement.
