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Putin cites chance of peace deal but says Ukrainian aviation warning makes it harder
Putin said contacts with Washington are continuing and that Russia and Ukraine must resolve the conflict themselves.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine is possible, insisting the conflict must be resolved directly between Russia and Ukraine with third-party assistance.
Putin simultaneously accused Ukraine of "state terrorism" regarding recent warnings about Russian airspace risks, claiming these threats complicate bilateral peace talks and Moscow welcomes support from China and the United States.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte criticized Russia on Wednesday as "increasingly reckless," citing missiles crossing Europe's eastern flank and alleged hybrid attacks in Germany, warning "If Russia thinks we will be divided... they are mistaken."
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Russian spy chiefs in Moscow last week as Russia maintains contacts with President Donald Trump's administration to broker a peace deal, though neither side disclosed meeting details.
Despite diplomatic overtures, the front line remains largely static after 4-1/2 years of war, with Ukraine cut off from international civil aviation as both sides escalate long-range air attacks deep inside each other's territory.
The Russian head of state ruled out a new military mobilization and defended measures to contain inflation and respond to attacks on energy infrastructure.
At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday, September 3, Vladimir Putin discussed the possibility of peace talks with Kiev. The Russian President stressed the importance of a direct dialogue between the...