Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he remains open to the idea of peace talks concerning Ukraine, indicating that African and Chinese initiatives could potentially serve as a foundation for seeking peace. However, he expressed difficulty in implementing a ceasefire due to the Ukrainian army’s offensive actions, as reported by BBC.
Both Ukraine and Russia have previously stated their refusal to engage in negotiations without specific preconditions. Kyiv asserted that it will not yield any territory, while Moscow maintained that its war-torn neighbor must accept the new territorial reality of the country.
Last year, Russia invaded Ukraine and currently occupies territories in the south and east of the country. Putin clarified during a late-night press conference that there are no immediate plans to escalate actions on the Ukrainian front.
Moreover, the Russian president defended the arrests of critical voices, citing concerns about individuals harming Russia from within. Criticism of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is prohibited, leading to the imprisonment or exile of many prominent opposition members.
During the press conference, Putin also addressed Moscow’s execution of “preventive strikes” following an explosion on a Crimean bridge, which he labeled as a “terrorist” act, with Russia vowing to respond. Although Kyiv did not officially claim responsibility for the blast on the bridge connecting the occupied peninsula to Russia, tensions persisted.
The Russia-Africa summit followed a meeting last month, where African leaders and representatives from seven countries engaged with both Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin.
