Putin accuses Ukraine of blocking peace talks, claims willingness

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of being unwilling to negotiate during a press conference in Moscow on Friday.

Putin said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly makes demands but offers no proposals – and had even signed a decree banning negotiations with Russia.

By contrast, he said Russia was willing to hold peace talks, as he claimed it had been at the beginning of the war.

In response to a question, the Russian president said he was open to Saudi Arabia hosting such negotiations, but emphasized that the content was important.

He said Russia was ready for new talks on the basis of the agreements already reached with Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul after the start of the war.

These agreements stipulate, among other points, that Ukraine would have to abandon its bid for NATO membership.

Putin also criticized NATO for fighting Russia “with Ukraine’s hands.”

“Victory will be ours,” the Russian president added, but avoided giving a time frame for the war when asked, saying that this was a question for NATO.

Putin has repeatedly said that the war will continue for as long as NATO members supply Ukraine with weapons, despite having ordered the full-scale invasion himself.

The war is on the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the BRICS economic bloc in the Russian city of Kazan, set to take place from Tuesday to Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of being unwilling to negotiate during a press conference in Moscow on Friday.

Putin said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly makes demands but offers no proposals – and had even signed a decree banning negotiations with Russia.

By contrast, he said Russia was willing to hold peace talks, as he claimed it had been at the beginning of the war.

In response to a question, the Russian president said he was open to Saudi Arabia hosting such negotiations, but emphasized that the content was important.

He said Russia was ready for new talks on the basis of the agreements already reached with Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul after the start of the war.

These agreements stipulate, among other points, that Ukraine would have to abandon its bid for NATO membership.

Putin also criticized NATO for fighting Russia “with Ukraine’s hands.”

“Victory will be ours,” the Russian president added, but avoided giving a time frame for the war when asked, saying that this was a question for NATO.

Putin has repeatedly said that the war will continue for as long as NATO members supply Ukraine with weapons, despite having ordered the full-scale invasion himself.

The war is on the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the BRICS economic bloc in the Russian city of Kazan, set to take place from Tuesday to Thursday.