Putin: Take Trump's statements on ending the Ukraine conflict seriously
Putin usually speaks of a "military special operation" in Ukraine. The Kremlin chief expressed himself at a press conference at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana.
Putin added that he "is not used to" knowing what specific proposals Trump will make to resolve the Ukraine conflict. "That is the crucial question," Putin added. "But I have no doubt that he will be sincere and we will support that."
Trump had said in a TV debate with US President Joe Biden the previous week that he would settle the conflict in Ukraine before taking office in January 2025.
Putin had hinted several times that he is open for talks to end the conflict. However, he demanded a de-facto surrender from Ukraine as a condition for a ceasefire last month. He called on the neighboring country to withdraw its soldiers from the south and east of the country and vacate the territory currently controlled by Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected a temporary ceasefire. In his assessment, Russia would use such a pause in fighting to reorganize and rearm its army.
The Ukrainian government is demanding instead that the Russian army completely withdraws from Ukraine, including from the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia must also pay compensation for the damage caused by the conflict.
The Russian army has made progress on the battlefield in Ukraine, after a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the previous year had been largely unsuccessful.
- According to Putin's recent statements at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, he views the situation in Ukraine as a "military special operation."
- During the same press conference, Putin expressed uncertainty about the specific proposals Trump might have to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
- Trump had mentioned during a TV debate with the US President Joe Biden that he aimed to settle the Ukraine conflict before taking office in 2025.
- Despite Putin's hints of openness for talks to end the conflict, he demanded a de-facto surrender from Ukraine as a condition for a ceasefire last month.
- Putin urged Ukraine to withdraw its soldiers from the south and east of the country and to vacate the territory currently controlled by Ukraine.
- Due to reorganization and rearmament concerns, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected a temporary ceasefire proposition.
- On the battlefield, the Russian army has made significant progress in Ukraine, following a largely unsuccessful Ukrainian counteroffensive in the previous year.
