Фото: kremlin.ru
Russia has informed the United States that it is ready to resume trilateral talks involving Ukraine to finally resolve “the issue of ensuring the security of Ukraine and Russia after peace agreements are reached.” Vladimir Putin made the statement while answering questions from propagandist Pavel Zarubin.
“In their final form, rather than as a result of a suspension of hostilities for some short period of time. We are ready to resume these contacts to achieve this goal. At the same time, a representative of the US administration pointed out that if we are to discuss issues related to ensuring security for both Ukraine and Russia in the future, then, naturally, we will also need to talk about the European security architecture. I agree. Well, let us see how the situation develops over the next few days,” he said.
Putin claimed that Russia did not want to fight Ukraine but was ready to continue hostilities if that was what the Ukrainian leadership wanted.
“We do not want to fight Ukraine. But if the current Ukrainian leadership wants to fight, then let them fight. But why do they think everyone else should pay for it and supply them with weapons?” he said.
Putin also commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that he was ready to freeze the war along the current front line.
“First of all, my view is that these are not their territories; they are the territories of historical Russia. Moreover, the people living in these territories voted: first, for state independence, and second — and I want to emphasize this — for reunification with the Russian Federation. So I think it is inappropriate to talk about any territorial losses,” he said.
According to Putin, Russia is not preparing “for any kind of war with Europe.”