Peace plan and 'compromises': Putin on Ukraine war and ongoing talks
Photo: Russian president Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian president Vladimir Putin held a press conference, making statements about the war in Ukraine and a peace plan.
What he said about Ukraine and peace talks — read in the RBC-Ukraine report below.
Fantasies about the front
Putin began with the war in Ukraine, claiming that the Russian army had allegedly taken Siversk, Pokrovsk, Vovchansk, and Kupiansk, and “controls” 50% of Krasnyi Lyman, Kostiantynivka, Huliaipole and Myrnohrad.
Russian propagandists called Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Kupiansk — which proves Russia’s lies about capturing the city — a “fake” and a “staged act.” Putin echoed this claim.
“The stele (of Kupiansk — ed.) now looks completely different. The stele is located about a kilometer from the town — why stand on the doorstep, go into the house if Kupiansk is under their control,” he cynically said.
Putin also once again spoke about the “root causes of the conflict” and the desire to end the war by “peaceful means.” He even noted that he “sees and feels a readiness to conduct some kind of dialogue” on the part of Ukraine.
On Russian assets in the EU
Russian propagandists mentioned frozen Russian assets in the EU and called the idea of transferring them to Ukraine “theft.” Putin said this was not “theft, but robbery.” Putin also mentioned the EU's idea of issuing a reparations loan to Ukraine, though he failed to pronounce it correctly.
“One of the ideas is to issue a repatriation (reparations, — ed.) loan secured by our assets. These are consequences for the budget of each country, it increases the budget debt of each country. And most importantly — no matter what they steal, someday it will have to be returned. We will defend our interests, first of all in courts. We will try to find a jurisdiction that will be independent of political decisions,” Putin said.
On Trump and the US peace plan
An American journalist asked Putin whether he would bear responsibility for the deaths of Ukrainians and Russians if he rejected the peace plan. Putin cynically replied that Russia “does not consider itself responsible for the deaths of people, because it was not us who started this war.”
He also said that US President Donald Trump “is making serious efforts to end the conflict.” According to him, at a meeting with Trump in Anchorage, Russia “practically agreed with Trump’s proposals.”
“To say that we are rejecting something is incorrect and has no basis whatsoever. At previous meetings in Moscow, proposals were made to us, and we were asked to make certain compromises. Arriving in Anchorage, I said that these would be difficult decisions for us, but we agree with the compromises proposed to us. The issue lies entirely with our Western opponents. We are ready for negotiations and for ending the conflict by peaceful means,” the Russian leader said.
Peace plan for Ukraine
For several months now, a peace plan proposed by the United States has been under discussion. The American side is acting as a mediator — Trump’s envoys are holding talks with Ukraine and Russia. Initially, a document with 28 points was formed, but most of them were not in Ukraine’s favor. During discussions, the document was revised. Currently, a document consisting of 20 points is being discussed, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine.
The most difficult issue is territories. The Russians want Ukraine to fully withdraw from the Donetsk region. Ukraine has no intention of withdrawing. The United States proposes creating a “free economic zone” in Donbas (in the Russian version — a “demilitarized zone”). Kyiv's position is that if Ukraine withdraws, the Russians must also withdraw.
Another round of talks is expected in the coming days. Negotiations in the United States are planned between Trump’s and Putin’s envoys, as well as with the Ukrainian delegation.
