Putin says Russia ready to talk on Ukraine, with US, EU, but will defend its national interests, during defence meeting

Putin said he was open to negotiations about the future of Ukraine, but he would do what was in his country’s best interests

The Russian leader’s comments came during a meeting of the country’s defence leadership in Moscow

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Russia’s Vladimir Putin has indicated that he would be willing to discuss a solution to the Ukraine war. Photo: Kremlin/dpa

Published: 10:32pm, 19 Dec 2023Updated: 11:35pm, 19 Dec 2023

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would be prepared to talk to Ukraine, the United States and Europe about the future of Kyiv if the parties wanted to, but that Moscow would defend its national interests.

Putin, who sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly said he would be prepared to talk about peace, though Western officials say he is waiting for the US presidential election in November before making a genuine effort.

“In Ukraine, those who are aggressive towards Russia, and in Europe and in the United States – do they want to negotiate? Let them. But we will do it based on our national interests,” Putin told a meeting of the defence leadership in Moscow.

“We will not give up what is ours,” Putin said, adding that Russia did not intend to fight with Europe.

Russia controls about 17.5 per cent of the territory that was internationally recognised as part of Ukraine when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and last year said the four additional regions of Ukraine that its troops partially control are part of Russia. Kyiv says it will not rest until every last Russian soldier is ejected from Ukraine.

Russia at war

Putin spoke at a meeting of the defence ministry which was attended by the military top brass, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, as well as Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov.