Speaking in Beijing, China, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that there is an opportunity to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations "if reason prevails." However, he warned that Moscow is prepared to end the conflict by force if necessary.
"I believe that we can absolutely reach an acceptable solution to end the conflict, especially when we clearly see the attitude of the American administration under President Donald Trump. They are not just making statements, but sincerely seeking a solution," Putin said.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference in Beijing, China, on 3/9. Photo: AFP |
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference in Beijing, China, on 3/9. Photo: AFP
The Russian president described American efforts to find a solution to the war as a "light at the end of the tunnel," but added that the outcome depends on how the situation develops.
"If a solution is not reached, we will be forced to complete the set tasks by military force," Putin continued.
Putin noted that Russian forces "are advancing on all fronts" in Ukraine, while Kyiv no longer has the capacity to launch large-scale offensives.
Regarding the prospect of a Russia-Ukraine summit, President Putin said he is ready to meet with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky if the Ukrainian leader comes to Moscow. He reiterated Russia's position that such a meeting needs to be thoroughly prepared and yield tangible results.
"I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But would it be useful? Let's wait and see," Putin continued.
According to the Kremlin leader, for progress to be made, Ukraine needs to lift martial law, hold elections, and conduct referendums regarding the territories annexed by Russia. He added that Russia is ready to upgrade its peace negotiation delegation with Ukraine if necessary, but declined to elaborate.
Russian-Ukrainian peace talks resumed in May, facilitated by President Trump. Trump held a summit with Putin on 15/8 in Alaska and subsequently met with European leaders and Zelensky at the White House on 18/8.
These events sparked hope for a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky to end the war. Initially, both leaders expressed willingness, but subsequent developments suggest that the prospects for peace talks are fragile.
When asked about his reaction to the Russian president's response following the Alaska meeting, Trump expressed "great disappointment" on 2/9 because Putin had not reached a peace agreement with Ukraine. However, he did not specify what consequences Russia might face.
Ukrainian President Zelensky said today that he would try to connect with the White House on 4/9 to push for further US sanctions against Russia.
Nhu Tam (AFP, Reuters)
