Russian President Vladimir Putin said that there is still a possibility of ending the war in Ukraine through negotiations “if common sense prevails,” though he warned that Moscow would rely on military force if necessary. Speaking in Beijing after signing a gas pipeline deal with China, Putin said he saw “a certain light at the end of the tunnel,” pointing to what he described as U.S. President Donald Trump’s “sincere desire” to push for a settlement.
While striking a conciliatory tone, Putin did not shift from Russia’s core demands, including that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations and address what Moscow claims is discrimination against Russian speakers. He stressed that any resolution must meet these conditions, otherwise Russia would continue pursuing its objectives on the battlefield.
Putin also expressed readiness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, but only if the talks were “well prepared” and aimed at achieving “tangible results.” However, Kyiv rejected Moscow as a venue, with Ukraine’s foreign minister dismissing the proposal as “unacceptable.”
