Putin Ready to Negotiate with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy If Necessary

Putin Ready to Negotiate with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy If Necessary

Moscow, February 18: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is prepared to negotiate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if necessary, but there is a need to discuss the legal basis of such negotiations and agreements, as Zelenskyy’s legitimacy could be questioned, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

On Tuesday, Peskov told reporters, “Putin himself said that he would be ready to negotiate with Zelenskyy if necessary, but the legal basis of agreements needs discussion, considering the reality that Zelenskyy’s legitimacy can be questioned.”

He also mentioned that Ukraine’s decision to join the European Union is its sovereign right, and Russia does not plan to dictate how Kyiv should handle this matter. However, Peskov clearly stated that Russia would impose restrictions regarding military alliances.

He said, “We are talking about integration and economic integration processes. And here, of course, no one can dictate anything to any country, and we are not going to do that.”

Russia had earlier stated that one of the goals of its “special military operation” is to prevent Ukraine from joining the NATO alliance, which Russia views as a threat to its security.

Peskov further said, “There is a completely different position, of course, on security-related issues related to defense or military alliances.” He also noted that a long-term solution is impossible without a comprehensive discussion of security issues on the continent.

He mentioned that discussions in Riyadh could offer more clarity regarding a potential meeting between Putin and Donald Trump, although no agreements have been reached on this matter yet.

In 2022, Putin ordered the Russian military to invade Ukraine. He has consistently expressed a willingness to discuss a resolution to the war, considering the current situation, where Russian forces now occupy nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. However, Western intelligence, European leaders, and former U.S. President Joe Biden have all suggested that they believe Putin is not genuinely seeking peace, while U.S. President Donald Trump maintains that he believes Putin is serious about wanting to end the conflict.