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Russian President Vladimir Putin told Kyiv on Wednesday that there was a chance to end the war in Ukraine via negotiations “if common sense prevails,” but that he was ready to end it by force if that was the only way.
Speaking in China at the end of a visit there, Putin said he perceived “a certain light at the end of the tunnel” given what he said were sincere efforts by the United States to find a settlement to Europe’s biggest land war since the Second World War.
“It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict. That is my assumption,” he told reporters in Beijing.
“Especially since we can see the mood of the current U.S. administration under President Trump, and we see not just their statements, but their sincere desire to find this solution.
“Let’s see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms.”
Russia said it launched a sweeping attack on Ukraine that killed one person and injured at least 24, damaging infrastructure and residential buildings. Meanwhile, Kyiv reported it struck two of its rival’s oil refineries as the war that began in February 2022 showed no signs of slowing down.
Putin did not, however, indicate any willingness to soften his longstanding demands that Ukraine abandon any ideas of joining NATO, reverse what Moscow has described as discrimination against Russian speakers and ethnic Russians or step back from the idea that Moscow must have full control of at least the Donbas area in Eastern Ukraine.
He said he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow, but that it remained to be seen whether such a meeting was worthwhile.
‘Is there any point?’ asks Putin
He repeated his view that Zelenskyy, who has not faced re-election due to martial law despite his official term in office expiring, was illegitimate. Kyiv flatly rejects that, saying it is impossible to hold meaningful elections at a time of war.
Zelenskyy has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal even though the two sides remain far apart, urging Washington to sanction Moscow again if Putin doesn’t agree.
U.S. President Donald Trump — who has been trying to broker a peace settlement — has also said he wants the two leaders to meet, and has spoken of, but not imposed, secondary sanctions on Russia.
Putin told reporters he had always been open to meeting Zelenskyy but reiterated the Kremlin’s oft-repeated stance that such a meeting had to be well prepared in advance and lead to tangible results.
“As for a meeting with Zelenskyy, I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting,” said Putin. “But is there any point? Let’s see.”