Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he reached “understandings” with US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict in Ukraine during a recent meeting in Alaska. However, he did not confirm whether he would agree to peace talks mediated by Trump, who has set a deadline for Putin’s response.
At a summit in China, Putin reiterated his justification for the invasion of Ukraine, attributing the conflict to Western influence and actions. Following the Alaska meeting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that Putin had agreed to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential peace settlement, but this has not been officially confirmed by Moscow.
During his speech in Tianjin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Putin expressed gratitude towards Chinese and Indian leaders for their support and efforts to help resolve the crisis in Ukraine. Both China and India are leading buyers of Russian crude oil, which has drawn criticism from Western countries.
Putin claimed that the “understandings reached” at the Alaska meeting could pave the way for peace in Ukraine, reiterating his belief that the crisis was not initiated by Russia’s actions but was a consequence of Western intervention in Ukrainian politics. He has consistently expressed opposition to Ukraine’s potential NATO membership.
Historically, in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, and more recently, in February 2022, launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s comments followed a significant aerial attack by Russia on Ukraine, which resulted in multiple casualties. French President Emmanuel Macron noted Trump’s deadline for Putin regarding peace talks, suggesting noncompliance would signify a lack of seriousness from the Russian leader.
On the American front, Trump has also indicated potential security guarantees for Ukraine without deploying US troops directly. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected proposals for a buffer zone with Russia, viewing them as a delay tactic by Moscow.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qljy44553o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss