Putin said that Russia is ready to negotiate with anyone, including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On Thursday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said that he is open to compromising over the Ukraine war in talks with US President-elect Donald Trump, emphasizing that he would have no preconditions for discussions but any deal must involve legitimate Ukrainian authorities.
According to a Reuters report, Putin said that Russia is ready to negotiate with anyone, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During his annual Q&A session with Russians on state TV, Putin responded to a reporter from a US news channel, saying he had not spoken with Trump in years but was ready to meet with him to discuss the conflict.
Putin rejected claims that Russia was in a weak position, asserting that the country had grown stronger since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While he stated that Russia was open to negotiations, he emphasized that Kyiv must also be prepared for compromises.
Putin also dismissed the possibility of a temporary truce, insisting on a lasting peace agreement instead. He mentioned that future talks should build on an earlier, unimplemented proposal in Istanbul. However, some Ukrainian politicians viewed this draft deal as a surrender.
The war has caused extensive casualties, displaced millions, and strained relations between Russia and the West. Despite Russia controlling about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, Putin defended the invasion as a defensive operation against NATO expansion.
‘Should’ve sent troops before 2022’
Despite expressing willingness to hold talks with Trump on Ukraine, Putin said he should have sent troops into Ukraine sooner than in 2022 when asked if he would do anything differently. He also added that Russia should have been better prepared for the conflict.
When a BBC reporter asked if he had looked after Russia, as former Russian president Boris Yeltsin had asked him to do before handing over the presidency at the end of 1999, Putin said that he had.
Putin stated, “We have moved back from the edge of the abyss,” according to a Reuters report. He emphasized that Russia had successfully avoided a catastrophic outcome and had regained stability.
He went on to say, “I have done everything to ensure that Russia is an independent and sovereign power that is able to make decisions in its own interests.” Putin’s words underscored his belief that he had strengthened Russia’s position on the global stage.
Putin also discussed Russia’s advanced “Oreshnik” hypersonic missile, which had already been test-fired at a Ukrainian military factory. He indicated that he was prepared to organize another launch targeting Ukraine to test whether Western air defense systems could intercept and destroy the missile.
In response to Putin’s missile suggestion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the issue during a press conference at a European Council meeting in Brussels. He questioned Putin’s mental state, saying, “Do you think he is a sane person?”
Zelenskyy’s remark reflected the gravity of the situation, as Putin’s missile test proposal appeared to escalate tensions further in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The exchange highlighted the stark contrast in the leaders’ approaches, with Putin asserting Russia’s strength and sovereignty, while Zelenskyy raised concerns about the Russian president’s stability and intentions.
