During the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his openness to negotiate with Ukraine, should Kyiv express interest.
Never Refused Discussions
This declaration contrasts sharply with previous statements from Moscow, which had dismissed the prospect of negotiations, especially following Ukraine's recent military offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, launched on August 6.
Putin emphasized that Russia has never refused to engage in discussions, stating, “If a desire for negotiation emerges in Ukraine, we will not refuse.”
However, he insisted that any talks should be based on the conclusions drawn from earlier negotiations held in Istanbul in the spring of 2022.
This sets a precedent for the type of dialogue Putin is willing to entertain, indicating a desire to revisit prior terms rather than initiating fresh discussions.
The Russian president reiterated that reclaiming the Donbas region remains Moscow’s top priority.
He claimed that Russian forces are successfully repelling Ukrainian attacks in Kursk and suggested that Ukraine's recent offensive aims to disrupt Russian military operations.
“The enemy’s objective was to provoke and distract us, forcing us to redeploy our troops and halt our victorious offensive in key areas, especially in Donbas, which is our number one priority,” he stated.
