Putin halts all diplomacy but clears urgent path for Trump's representatives
Russian leader Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that negotiations regarding Ukraine are currently "effectively frozen," according to a press conference held by Putin following the SCO summit.
"Negotiations with Ukraine are currently frozen," Putin said, adding that if anyone wished to inject some positivity into the process, Russia would welcome it.
The leader also did not rule out expanding the circle of participants in the negotiations if new parties could genuinely contribute to the process. According to him, the talks require "experts, military personnel, and diplomats."
Separately, Putin commented on Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow, stating that contacts between intelligence agencies had existed even during the most difficult periods of the Cold War: "We believe that any negotiations should be filled with concrete substance."
He also noted that Russia finds it comfortable to work with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, calling them always welcome guests.
Earlier, it became known that Putin had clashed with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over the country’s course toward the EU - a protocol conversation escalated into an open dispute before the cameras.
Earlier that same day, it was reported that Putin had canceled a planned meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe at the last minute during his visit to Moscow on August 25 due to differences in position regarding the war in Ukraine.
