Putin makes another statement about war in Ukraine and negotiations
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (GettyImages)
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not have the authority to sign documents following potential negotiations with Moscow, the Kremlin leader stated this in an interview with Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin.
Putin claimed that negotiations with Ukraine allegedly began at the start of the so-called special military operation (SVO). At that time, the Kremlin proposed that Ukraine "leave" the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), suggesting that there would have been no hostilities if this had happened. However, Putin seems to have forgotten the earlier demands for Ukraine's "demilitarization," "denazification," and neutral status.
"The negotiations, in fact, began immediately after the start of the SVO. At first, we told the then-Ukrainian leadership: the people in the DNR and LNR do not want to be part of Ukraine, leave, and that's it — everything will end there," Putin said.
According to him, in that case, Russia supposedly would not have attacked Ukrainian territory. At the same time, he claims that it was Kyiv that decided to go to war.
Additionally, Putin stated that the powers of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have allegedly expired. Therefore, he claims that Zelenskyy has no right to sign a peace treaty due to his so-called illegitimacy.
"Lawyers must confirm the legitimacy of the individuals authorized by the Ukrainian state to sign these agreements," the Kremlin leader stated.
Putin believes that when Zelenskyy signed the decree banning negotiations with Russia, he was still legitimate. Therefore, in his opinion, the decree will need to be revoked before any negotiations can take place.
The Russian President is convinced that Ukraine will not be able to continue fighting if the West ceases its support. He claims that the key factor in prolonging the conflict is the Western financial sponsorship of Kyiv and the supply of ammunition.
"I think that ... if the money and, broadly speaking, the ammunition stop, everything will end in a month and a half or two. In this sense, Ukraine's sovereignty is almost zero," Putin said.
Negotiations with Russia
US President Donald Trump firmly addressed Putin, urging him to sit down at the negotiating table to end the war against Ukraine. Trump stated that otherwise, he would take strict measures to force Moscow to do so.
In response, Putin complained that Kyiv allegedly has a ban on negotiations with Russia.
