PressAdda
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed Moscow’s readiness to engage in talks regarding the Ukraine issue.
President Putin said, “We have always stated this, and I want to emphasize once again that we are ready for negotiations on Ukraine.”
He highlighted the need to address specific issues before discussions could begin, stating, “How can negotiations start when sanctions are already in place? It is necessary to ease sanctions first to create a conducive environment for talks. If discussions were to resume under Ukraine’s current legal framework, it would be deemed illegal.”
He further added, “As long as this order remains in place, I doubt whether these talks can start or whether they can be carried out effectively. Therefore, another phase of discussions is essential to set the stage for meaningful negotiations.”
Putin also pointed out, “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously issued an order prohibiting talks with Russia. Is it possible to hold discussions under such circumstances?”
He acknowledged that some preliminary discussions might be possible but emphasized that serious negotiations would be challenging due to existing sanctions imposed by Ukraine.
The Russian leader stated that Zelensky seems in no rush to lift the ban on negotiations or to act independently of his sponsors’ instructions. Putin called on Ukraine’s financial backers to pressure Ukrainian leaders into creating an environment conducive to talks.
Meanwhile, during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that American efforts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine were “progressing optimistically.”
