Putin: 'Announced Ceasefire Conditions Will Not Last Forever'

Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia is prepared to continue dialogue with the Ukrainian side based on negotiations held in Istanbul and Minsk.

“Russia is ready to continue dialogue with the Ukrainian side on the basis of Istanbul and Minsk,” stated Vladimir Putin. The President of Russia also warned that the ceasefire conditions he announced last week will not last forever.

Putin made these remarks while responding to journalists' questions in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking a further step towards peace in Ukraine. The Russian leader, who has expressed renewed intent to return to negotiations previously held in Istanbul that had stalled midway, stated, “Russia has never abandoned negotiations. We have never given up on dialogue.” The agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 were also accepted by Ukraine. For this reason, we are ready to continue dialogue with the Ukrainian side in Istanbul and Minsk. Even as early as tomorrow. Russia’s proposals are on the table.”

In previous statements, Russia emphasized that the peaceful negotiations in Istanbul were undermined by the West, and that Ukraine followed its allies. Referring to the peace conditions proposed to Ukraine last week, Putin stated that Russia is always open to negotiations, whereas Kyiv and the Western nations supporting it have sabotaged both the Minsk process and the Istanbul negotiations.

Putin warned that the conditions he announced will not be eternal, noting, “Our conditions will change depending on the situation in the country.” This visit to North Korea marks the first time in 24 years, after which he traveled to Vietnam to make these statements.