Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow remains open to dialogue on the Ukraine conflict but accused Kyiv of obstructing negotiations.
"We have consistently said, and I want to emphasize once again, that Russia is always ready for dialogue on the Ukraine issue. However, certain obstacles need to be addressed. For example, the current head of Ukraine's administration issued a decree banning negotiations while still serving as a legitimate president," President Putin said in an interview published today.
The Kremlin leader made these remarks when asked about reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is interested in discussing the Ukraine conflict with Russian leadership.
Trump and Ukraine
In the interview, President Putin also expressed agreement with President Trump's belief that the Russia-Ukraine conflict might have been avoided if Trump had won the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
"I cannot disagree that the crisis in Ukraine might not have occurred in 2022 if Trump had been president—if his victory in 2020 had not been stolen," Putin said. He described Trump as "pragmatic" and "intelligent," adding that he trusted the American leader not to artificially lower global oil prices to harm Russia’s economy.
Putin noted that oil prices that are either "too high or too low" adversely impact both the Russian and U.S. economies.
Ukraine’s Response
Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed the notion of Moscow and Washington negotiating over Ukraine without Kyiv's involvement.
"That will not happen. President Putin needs to face reality. This is not how the modern world works," Yermak said.
President Trump has yet to comment on the matter.
On January 23, Trump urged Putin to reach a deal "now" to end the Ukraine conflict, warning that Russia could face tariffs and sanctions otherwise. Despite this, Trump stated that he "does not want to harm Russia" and maintains a "very good relationship" with President Putin.
The U.S. president also criticized current oil prices as too high and pledged to pressure OPEC to lower them, framing this as part of a broader effort to end the conflict. Western nations have sought to limit Russia’s oil revenues, which they argue fund Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Legal and Political Implications
In October 2022, President Zelensky signed a decree banning direct negotiations with Russia as long as President Putin remains in power. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga confirmed on January 15 that the ban is still in effect.
Russian officials, however, argue that Zelensky ceased to be Ukraine's legitimate president in May 2024, when his five-year term officially ended. Zelensky has deferred elections, citing the ongoing conflict as the reason for the delay.
(Sources: AFP, TASS)
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