Russian President Vladimir Putin says he reached understandings with US President Donald Trump over the end of the Ukraine war at their meeting in Alaska last month. But he did not say whether he would agree to peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky brokered by Trump, who had apparently given Monday as a deadline for Putin's response. Speaking during a summit in China, Putin continued to defend his decision to invade Ukraine, once again blaming the West for the war.
Following the Alaska meeting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Putin had agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential future peace deal, though Moscow has yet to confirm this.
Putin was speaking in Tianjin at the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit, where he met Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi. He thanked these leaders for their support, particularly concerning the Ukrainian crisis. Notably, China and India continue to be key buyers of Russian crude oil, which has led to criticism from the West.
Putin expressed hope that the understandings reached with Trump could pave the way for peace in Ukraine while reiterating his stance that the current crisis originated from a Western-supported coup in Ukraine. He accused the West of attempting to bring Ukraine into NATO, a move he consistently opposes.
Since 2014, following the annexation of Crimea and the proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine, Putin has continually framed the narrative that casts Russia as a victim of Western provocation.
In light of Russia's ongoing military actions, including a recent significant aerial assault on Ukraine, tensions remain high, with world leaders calling for more decisive actions to pressure Putin into peace negotiations. Trump's ultimatum adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation as all eyes now turn to the Kremlin for a response.
Following the Alaska meeting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Putin had agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential future peace deal, though Moscow has yet to confirm this.
Putin was speaking in Tianjin at the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit, where he met Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi. He thanked these leaders for their support, particularly concerning the Ukrainian crisis. Notably, China and India continue to be key buyers of Russian crude oil, which has led to criticism from the West.
Putin expressed hope that the understandings reached with Trump could pave the way for peace in Ukraine while reiterating his stance that the current crisis originated from a Western-supported coup in Ukraine. He accused the West of attempting to bring Ukraine into NATO, a move he consistently opposes.
Since 2014, following the annexation of Crimea and the proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine, Putin has continually framed the narrative that casts Russia as a victim of Western provocation.
In light of Russia's ongoing military actions, including a recent significant aerial assault on Ukraine, tensions remain high, with world leaders calling for more decisive actions to pressure Putin into peace negotiations. Trump's ultimatum adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation as all eyes now turn to the Kremlin for a response.
