Ukraine talks possible, but not with 'illegitimate' Zelensky: Putin
3 Min Read
Russian President Vladimir Putin expresses his readiness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine on the condition that it is not with the current administration.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Samara Research and production center for unmanned aircraft systems in Samara, Russia, Tuesday, January 28, 2025. (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that negotiations with Ukraine could take place but ruled out engaging with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he labeled "illegitimate."
Putin's remarks come as US President Donald Trump looks to be pushing for an end to the nearly three-year war. Trump claimed last week that Zelensky was eager to negotiate a "deal" to bring an end to the hostilities.
"If Zelensky wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part," Putin said. However, he dismissed the Ukrainian leader’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of Zelensky’s presidential term during martial law.
Putin added, "If there is a desire to negotiate and find a compromise, let anyone lead the negotiations there... Naturally, we will strive for what suits us and aligns with our interests."
The Russian leader also asserted that the conflict would conclude swiftly—within two months—if Western nations halted their financial and military support for Kiev. "They will not exist for a month if the money and, in a broad sense, the bullets run out. Everything would be over in a month and a half or two," he claimed.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to quickly broker a ceasefire if re-elected, the conflict shows no signs of de-escalating.
On Monday, Russian officials indicated that Trump’s team had not reached out to arrange a meeting with Putin, although both sides appeared open to dialogue. Meanwhile, Kiev has warned against being excluded from any peace negotiations, accusing Putin of seeking to "manipulate" Trump into sidestepping Ukraine’s participation.
Russia urges West to sway Ukraine
Putin on Friday called on Western nations to pressure Ukraine to lift its ban on peace negotiations with Moscow.
Speaking in an interview with Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin, published on Telegram, Putin stated that under the current circumstances, any talks would be "illegitimate" due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 2022 prohibition on engaging in dialogue with Russia.
"Kiev is in no rush to follow the orders of its sponsors, including when it comes to lifting the ban on talks with Russia," Putin said. He acknowledged that Western nations have been attempting to persuade Ukraine to remove the restriction but claimed that the "Kiev regime" remains content with the status quo, as it continues to receive "hundreds of billions [of dollars] from its sponsors" to "chomp down on."
"I believe that those, who provide [Kiev] with money, should ultimately make it [lift the ban on the talks]," Putin said, adding that Ukraine will eventually have no other choice but to discard the prohibition.
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