Putin Says Russia Open to Ukraine Peace Talks with Trump Administration

The Russian President says he wanted to secure long-lasting peace in Ukraine rather than a short ceasefire.

Mon Jan 20 2025
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MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he was open to talks on the Ukraine conflict with Donald Trump’s incoming US administration, adding he hoped any settlement would ensure “lasting peace”.

Trump is set to be sworn in for a historic second term as US president Monday, having promised to reach out to Russia and Ukraine to bring a swift end to the nearly three-year conflict.

“We are also open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said in televised remarks. He congratulated Trump on taking office hours before his inauguration in Washington.

“As for the settlement of the situation itself, I want to emphasise that its goal should not be a brief truce… but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” Putin added.

“We will, of course, fight for the interests of Russia, for the interests of the Russian people.”

Trump said last year that the Ukraine-Russia conflict was “dying to be settled” and that he would speak to both Moscow and Kyiv to avoid “World War III”.

Putin said he welcomed Trump’s desire to prevent a third world war. “We see the statement of the newly elected U.S. President and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, interrupted through no fault of ours by the outgoing administration,” Putin said.

“We also hear his statement about the need to do everything to prevent a third world war. Of course, we welcome such a mood and congratulate the elected President of the United States of America on taking office,” the Russian President said.

Russia-US ties

Putin’s statement reflects cautious hopes in Russia that Trump may be able to begin to repair ties between Washington and Moscow, which have fallen to their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

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The Russian President, who usually holds Security Council meetings on Fridays rather than Mondays, said Russia was open to talks with the new administration on a range of what he called key international issues, including nuclear arms and security and the Ukraine conflict.

Trump has promised to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, though he has not explained exactly how he would do that.

Lasting peace

Putin has said before that he is ready for talks but that Russia’s territorial gains and claims must be accepted, something the Ukrainian leadership has rejected as an unacceptable capitulation.

“As for the resolution of the situation (in Ukraine) itself, I would like to emphasise that the goal should not be a brief ceasefire, not some kind of period of respite that would allow a regrouping and rearmament of forces, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people and all peoples who live in the region,” Putin said.

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