Information
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to resume peace talks with Ukraine, despite previously stating that Ukrainian military actions in Kursk made negotiations impossible. He referenced a peace deal that was initially outlined during earlier discussions in Istanbul, suggesting that it could serve as a foundation for a new agreement. Putin emphasized that Russia has never refused negotiations, but any dialogue should be based on the existing framework from the Istanbul talks rather than new or vague demands.
Putin also suggested that BRICS member nations, specifically China, Brazil, and India, could potentially act as mediators in future negotiations. As the current chair of BRICS, which includes South Africa as well, Russia seeks to involve these emerging economies in the peace process to help facilitate discussions and potentially reach a resolution.
Source: AP, Reuters, AFP
So what
It seems possible that Putin may be willing to negotiate, but it is unlikely that much of his positions will change. In particular, Ukraine has continued to state that they want Russia to withdraw outside of the pre2014 borders, something Russia is highly unlikely to do. In an additional statement today, Putin stated that Russia’s primary goal in Ukraine is to control the Donbas region, indicating they are highly unlikely to give it up in any peace negotiation.
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