Russian President Vladimir Putin (Anadolu file photo)
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow is ready for peace talks with Ukraine at any time and place.
"On the basis of those agreements ... that were reached during difficult negotiations, almost a month and a half of negotiations in Istanbul and Minsk ... we are ready to continue our dialogue with the Ukrainian side. And it doesn't matter where they take place – in Minsk, Istanbul or Switzerland. ... Even tomorrow," he said, speaking at a news conference in Vietnam's capital Hanoi.
He, however, believed that the West would oppose his peace initiative on Ukraine and questioned why Russia's proposal was called "unrealistic" while no one criticized the same way Ukraine's "ultimatum," containing conditions unacceptable for Moscow.
Sane politicians would think about Russia's proposal on Ukraine if they want to end the conflict, he said, warning that conditions may change depending on the situation on the battlefield.
"I do not think that such nihilism regarding our proposals will remain forever. For sure, something will change, including our conditions, depending on the situation on the ground," he said.
At the same time, if Kyiv links the start of peace negotiations with the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, then talks will never happen, he added.
Asked about the West's permission to Ukraine to use supplied weapons to carry out strikes on Russia's territory, Putin said Moscow reserves the right to take mirror measures. (Anadolu)
