Russian President Vladimir Putin told Kyiv on Wednesday that there was still a chance to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations “if common sense prevails,” although he warned that he would be ready to use force to bring the conflict to an end if diplomacy fails.
Speaking at the conclusion of his visit to Beijing, where a new gas pipeline deal with China was agreed upon, Putin expressed a cautious optimism about the possibility of a peaceful resolution, citing what he saw as genuine efforts by the United States to help find a solution to the ongoing 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,” Putin told reporters.
He added, “Especially since we can see the mood of the current US administration under President Trump, and we see not just their statements, but their sincere desire to find this solution… And I think there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s see how the situation develops.”
“If not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms.”
However, Putin reiterated his firm stance on key demands, including Ukraine’s abandonment of any plans to join NATO and an end to what Moscow calls discrimination against Russian speakers.
He expressed his willingness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but insisted that such a meeting could only take place if it was well-prepared and led to concrete outcomes.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister rejected the suggestion of Moscow being the location for any potential talks, calling it “unacceptable.”
Zelenskyy, who has long been calling for a meeting with Putin to discuss the terms for a potential deal, continues to push for stronger sanctions against Russia if Putin refuses to negotiate.
US President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to mediate peace talks, has also expressed his desire for the two leaders to meet, although he has threatened secondary sanctions on Russia without implementing them yet.
Putin, whose economy has been increasingly strained due to sweeping Western sanctions, emphasised that he would prefer a peaceful resolution to the conflict, “by peaceful means,” if possible.
Russia has claimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, a move that Kyiv and most Western nations consider an illegal land grab, supported by what they describe as a colonial-style military campaign.
