Putin: We want to eliminate the causes of the conflict in Ukraine

Removing the causes of conflict

 

Putin: We want to eliminate the causes of the conflict in Ukraine

Two days after the first peace talks with Ukraine since 2022 failed to reach a ceasefire agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on Sunday his desire to eliminate the causes of the conflict in Ukraine and preserve Russia's security.

Putin told Russian state television that Moscow's goal is to "eliminate the causes that sparked this crisis, create conditions for lasting peace, and ensure Russia's security," according to Agence France-Presse. The Russian president also said, "The outcome of the special military operation must be long-term peace and the protection of the interests of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine."

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would speak by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir  Trump announced on Saturday that he would speak with Putin on Monday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, before speaking with Zelenskyy and several NATO leaders. Putin on Monday to "stop the bloodshed" in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Moscow confirmed that a meeting between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky is "possible," provided it is preceded by "agreements" that currently seem unlikely.

Conflicting Positions

After a week of intense tension, Kyiv and Moscow held their first direct talks in nearly three years in Istanbul on Friday. These talks highlighted the extent of the gap that must be bridged to end the conflict that erupted with the Russian invasion in February 2022.

The Ukrainian delegation on Friday asked the Russians for an "unconditional" ceasefire and a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. However, the two sides only agreed to an exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each camp. Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov expressed hope on Saturday that this exchange would take place "next week."

Difficult Demands from the Kremlin

The Kremlin stressed on Saturday that continuing talks with Kyiv is only possible after the prisoner exchange agreed upon by both sides. The Kremlin is holding out for tough demands, including that Ukraine abandon its NATO membership bid, cede four regions partially controlled by Russia, and the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and halt Western arms shipments. Ukraine strongly rejects these demands and demands the withdrawal of the Russian military, which occupies approximately 20% of its territory.