Vladimir Putin stated on February 24 that Russia has no issue with Ukraine’s statehood, but insisted that Ukrainian territory must never be used as a military threat to Moscow.
"Russia has nothing against Ukraine’s statehood, but its territory must not be used as a hostile staging ground against us," Putin said in an interview with Russian media.
His comments come after two years of full-scale war, during which Russian forces have occupied large portions of Ukrainian territory.
The Russian leader also emphasized the role of European nations in any potential negotiations, claiming that their involvement remains "essential" to resolving the war.
Putin described Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine as "direct and pragmatic," arguing that the former U.S. president has more flexibility in negotiations compared to European leaders, who face "political and institutional constraints."
He noted that Trump "wants to improve the political situation in Ukraine" and suggested that, unlike European counterparts, he has a "freer hand" in dealing with the crisis.
He also supported Trump’s idea of drastically cutting military budgets, proposing that the U.S., Russia, and China each reduce defense spending by 50%.
“I think it’s a good idea. The U.S. would cut by 50%, we would cut by 50%, and then China would join if it wanted,” Putin said.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed that Moscow will not stop military operations in Ukraine unless it secures agreements that fully align with Russia’s interests.
