Putin Says Ukraine Peace Proposals Still Open, but Russia to Weigh Its Interests
Vladimir Putin said all proposals to settle the Ukraine conflict remain on the table, but Moscow must assess its own interests before returning to negotiations with Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that every proposal for a settlement in Ukraine remains open for consideration, while stressing that Moscow would first need to determine what serves its own interests, according to Russian news agencies.
Putin indicated that Russia was prepared to return to negotiations with Kyiv following last week's Russian parliamentary elections. However, he said Ukraine had tried to strike Moscow and had attacked polling stations during the vote.
The remarks leave the door ajar for diplomacy even as the Russian leader framed any resumption of talks against the backdrop of recent hostilities. No timeline or conditions for renewed negotiations were set out in his comments.
The statement comes after the parliamentary elections, which Putin referenced as a factor in the timing of any return to the negotiating table. He did not elaborate on which proposals were under review or what specific interests Moscow would weigh.
Kyiv has not publicly responded to Putin's latest remarks. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues with no agreed framework for a ceasefire or a political settlement.