06:27Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Moscow's readiness for negotiations on Ukrainian conflict de-escalation, during the XXI annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday.
"We are ready for peace talks, but not based on Kiev's 'wishes', the name of which changes from month to month, but rather based on Istanbul [agreements] and today's realities," he said.
Putin also stressed the significance of Kiev's neutral status for the 'normalisation of relations' between the countries.
"If there is no neutrality, it is hard to imagine any good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Ukraine. Why? Because it means that Ukraine will be constantly used as a tool in foreign hands and to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation. Thus, the basic conditions for the normalisation of relations will not be created. And the situation will develop according to an unpredictable scenario. We would very much like to avoid this," he said.
The first summit on Ukraine based on Zelensky's own 'peace formula' was organised in Switzerland in June, and held without the participation of Moscow. Russia rejected the legitimacy of the meeting, while President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would be ready for peace talks following the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four regions - the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye - and if Kiev scrapped plans to join NATO.
Around 100 countries participated in that first summit, while 80 agreed to the final statement. Key Global South nations like India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all took part but were among those not endorsing the final outcome. Brazil, attending as an 'observer', also did not sign, while China did not send an envoy.
The XXI Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, themed 'A Lasting Peace - On What Basis? Universal Security and Equal Opportunities for Development in the 21st Century', took place in Sochi from October 4 to 7. The event hosted 140 experts, politicians, and diplomats from 50 countries across Eurasia, Africa, North America, and South America.
Russia ready for peace talks on Ukraine, but based on Istanbul agreements, not on 'Kiev's wishes' - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Moscow's readiness for negotiations on Ukrainian conflict de-escalation, during the XXI annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday.
"We are ready for peace talks, but not based on Kiev's 'wishes', the name of which changes from month to month, but rather based on Istanbul [agreements] and today's realities," he said.
Putin also stressed the significance of Kiev's neutral status for the 'normalisation of relations' between the countries.
"If there is no neutrality, it is hard to imagine any good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Ukraine. Why? Because it means that Ukraine will be constantly used as a tool in foreign hands and to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation. Thus, the basic conditions for the normalisation of relations will not be created. And the situation will develop according to an unpredictable scenario. We would very much like to avoid this," he said.
The first summit on Ukraine based on Zelensky's own 'peace formula' was organised in Switzerland in June, and held without the participation of Moscow. Russia rejected the legitimacy of the meeting, while President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would be ready for peace talks following the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four regions - the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye - and if Kiev scrapped plans to join NATO.
Around 100 countries participated in that first summit, while 80 agreed to the final statement. Key Global South nations like India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all took part but were among those not endorsing the final outcome. Brazil, attending as an 'observer', also did not sign, while China did not send an envoy.
The XXI Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, themed 'A Lasting Peace - On What Basis? Universal Security and Equal Opportunities for Development in the 21st Century', took place in Sochi from October 4 to 7. The event hosted 140 experts, politicians, and diplomats from 50 countries across Eurasia, Africa, North America, and South America.
Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Moscow's readiness for negotiations on Ukrainian conflict de-escalation, during the XXI annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday.
"We are ready for peace talks, but not based on Kiev's 'wishes', the name of which changes from month to month, but rather based on Istanbul [agreements] and today's realities," he said.
Putin also stressed the significance of Kiev's neutral status for the 'normalisation of relations' between the countries.
"If there is no neutrality, it is hard to imagine any good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Ukraine. Why? Because it means that Ukraine will be constantly used as a tool in foreign hands and to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation. Thus, the basic conditions for the normalisation of relations will not be created. And the situation will develop according to an unpredictable scenario. We would very much like to avoid this," he said.
The first summit on Ukraine based on Zelensky's own 'peace formula' was organised in Switzerland in June, and held without the participation of Moscow. Russia rejected the legitimacy of the meeting, while President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would be ready for peace talks following the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four regions - the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye - and if Kiev scrapped plans to join NATO.
Around 100 countries participated in that first summit, while 80 agreed to the final statement. Key Global South nations like India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all took part but were among those not endorsing the final outcome. Brazil, attending as an 'observer', also did not sign, while China did not send an envoy.
The XXI Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, themed 'A Lasting Peace - On What Basis? Universal Security and Equal Opportunities for Development in the 21st Century', took place in Sochi from October 4 to 7. The event hosted 140 experts, politicians, and diplomats from 50 countries across Eurasia, Africa, North America, and South America.