Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia's readiness for negotiations on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine but pointed to a decree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a significant barrier to progress.
\"We have always said this, and I would like to emphasize this once again: we are ready for negotiations on the Ukrainian issue,\" Putin stated on Friday.
However, Putin noted that Zelenskyy had previously issued a decree prohibiting negotiations with Russia, effectively stalling any potential dialogue.
\"How can negotiations be resumed now when they have been banned?\" Putin questioned, highlighting the legal obstacles posed by Ukraine's current policies. He added that as long as the decree remains in effect, initiating or concluding meaningful negotiations would be challenging.
While acknowledging that preliminary discussions might occur, Putin emphasized that serious talks would face significant hurdles due to the Ukrainian ban. He accused Zelenskyy of being \"in no hurry\" to lift the decree, suggesting that he was acting under the influence of his sponsors.
Putin called on those supporting Kyiv to encourage the Ukrainian president to remove the ban and reopen channels for dialogue.
In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on Thursday, expressed optimism about efforts to secure a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. He stated that negotiations were \"hopefully underway,\" adding that Ukraine was prepared to reach a deal.
Reference(s):
Putin open to Ukraine talks, cites Zelenskyy's ban as barrier
cgtn.com
