AI-generated illustration

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is ready to reach an agreement with Ukraine, arguing that a lasting peace deal ensuring the security of both countries is needed rather than a temporary ceasefire.

Speaking to the Rossiya state television channel, Putin also said he agreed with Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy, to restart three-way contacts focused on post-war security guarantees.

Response to Zelenskiy's remarks on territory

Putin addressed comments made by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskiy in an interview, in which Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready to accept the loss of territory. Putin rejected the framing, saying the areas under Russian control are not Ukrainian land but "historical Russia."

He said people living in those areas voted first for state independence and then to reunify with the Russian Federation. "I therefore think it is pointless to speak of any territorial loss," Putin said.

Attitude toward Europe

Putin said the situation had become the reason for an anti-Russian campaign across Europe in every field, and that the same circles now talk constantly about a threat coming from Russia and about preparations for war with Moscow. "This is a kind of political schizophrenia. But I hope this too will pass," he said.

The Russian president said it is not realistic to defeat Russia on the battlefield or inflict a strategic defeat on it, and expressed hope that those who favor Russia's defeat will "grasp the realities of modern life and understand that it is better to live in friendship with Russia." Putin said European political processes show that European peoples do not want war with Russia. "I want them to hear us. We do not want to fight either. We are not preparing for any war with Europe," he said.

He questioned why the whole world should pay money to the current Ukrainian administration, fight on its behalf and supply weapons, ammunition and equipment. "Even though they want to fight, we do not want to fight Ukraine. If the Ukrainian leadership wants to fight, they can continue fighting," he said. Putin also accused the Ukrainian leadership of gathering its own citizens who do not want to fight "like stray dogs in the streets" and sending them to the front by force, adding that the practice leads to heavy consequences and falling motivation.

Readiness to reach an agreement

Putin said Russia has been in favor of peace since the crisis in Ukraine began in 2014 and that Moscow tried to reach an agreement with the Kyiv administration. He argued that Kyiv chose war instead of securing an accord between the authorities and the people of eastern Ukraine.

"We are ready to agree even today. We are ready to find ways out of this heavy, complex situation and to agree," Putin said, describing Ukrainians as a people very close to Russians and citing what he called recent genetic research showing that Russians and Ukrainians are in fact one people. "Everything can be agreed on. I think we can agree, we accept that," he said, adding that Russia would carry out its tasks in any case and achieve all the goals of its "special military operation."

Meeting with Witkoff on security talks

Putin also discussed his meeting with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, in St. Petersburg. He said the two sides agreed to restart three-way contacts, with the purpose of discussing the security of Ukraine and Russia after peace agreements are reached.

Putin stressed that the goal would come after peace accords reach their final form, not as a result of a brief halt to hostilities. "We are ready to restart those contacts in order to reach this goal," he said. He added that he shared Witkoff's view that the European security architecture must also be addressed.

Key takeaways

• Putin said Russia is ready to reach an agreement with Ukraine and wants a peace deal, not a temporary ceasefire.
• He rejected talk of Ukrainian territorial loss, calling the areas under Russian control "historical Russia."
• Putin accused European circles of an anti-Russian campaign and said neither side wants war with Europe.
• Russia and the US agreed to restart three-way contacts on security guarantees after a final peace accord.