Moscow: Russia President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he is open to compromising over the Ukraine war in talks with US President-elect Donald Trump, emphasising that there are no preconditions for discussions but any deal must involve legitimate Ukrainian authorities.
Putin said that Russia was ready to negotiate with anyone, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Reuters report.
Responding to questions on state TV during his annual Q&A session with Russians, Putin told a reporter for a US news channel that 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 Putin stated Russia was open to negotiations, he asserted that Kyiv must be prepared for compromises as well.
Putin also dismissed any possibility of a temporary truce in favour of a lasting peace agreement. He mentioned that future talks should build on an earlier, unimplemented proposal in Istanbul. This draft deal, however, was viewed by some Ukrainian politicians as a surrender.
The war has caused extensive casualties, displaced millions, and worsened relations between Russia and the West. Putin defended the invasion as a defensive operation against NATO expansion, despite Russia controlling about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
