Putin Signals Openness to Ukraine Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said an agreement to end the war in Ukraine remains possible, while welcoming efforts by other countries to revive stalled negotiations.

Putin said Russia was open to outside countries making a “tangible contribution” to the peace process, which he acknowledged was currently “somewhat frozen”. He particularly praised US efforts to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv.

However, Putin also renewed his accusations of “state terrorism” against Kyiv after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines that Russian airspace was becoming increasingly unsafe because of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks.

Putin said such warnings amounted to “a call for state terrorism”, adding that Russia would respond if threats against civilian aviation were carried out. He also said that Russia would not negotiate with “terrorists”.

(Reuters, bak)