Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

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In his lengthy televised annual news conference, Vladimir Putin highlighted Russia's military successes and expressed his willingness to negotiate concerning Ukraine. He indicated that he does not have any preconditions for initiating talks aimed at bringing an end to the conflict.

The Russian president informed a journalist that he is open to having a meeting with Donald Trump, mentioning that they haven't communicated in years.

The president-elect of the United States has promised to quickly resolve the conflict in Ukraine, although he has not specified how he plans to do this.

When asked about what he could provide to Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin rejected the idea that Russia was in a vulnerable state.

Mr. Putin stated, "We have consistently expressed our willingness to engage in talks and make concessions," following his assertion that Russian troops are progressing along the entire front and are on track to meet their key objectives in Ukraine.

I believe that it won't be long before the number of Ukrainians willing to take up arms dwindles. Eventually, there may be no one left eager to engage in combat. While we are prepared, it's important for the opposing side to also be open to discussions and finding common ground.

Last month, Reuters reported that Mr. Putin was willing to talk about a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine with Mr. Trump. However, he made it clear that he would not agree to any significant territorial compromises and emphasized that Kyiv needs to give up its aspirations to join NATO.

On Thursday, Mr. Putin stated that Russia is not in a position to initiate discussions with Ukraine, but is open to negotiations with anyone, including Volodymyr Zelensky.

However, he stated that any agreement could only be finalized with the recognized leaders of Ukraine, and for the time being, the Kremlin regards the Ukrainian parliament as the sole authority.

Mr. Zelensky, whose term was originally set to end earlier this year but has been prolonged because of martial law, would have to win re-election for Moscow to recognize him as a valid participant in any agreement, ensuring it's legally sound, according to Mr. Putin.

Any discussions should begin with a preliminary agreement that was established but never implemented during negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul during the initial weeks of the conflict, he stated.

Certain Ukrainian politicians view the proposed agreement as a form of surrender that would undermine Ukraine's military and political goals.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, forced millions to flee their homes, and created the most significant rift in relations between Moscow and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

In a conversation about the ongoing presence of Ukrainian military personnel in Russia's Kursk area, Mr. Putin stated that the forces from Kyiv will eventually be removed, although he did not specify a timeline for when this would occur.

The conflict has reshaped Russia's economy, and President Putin noted that it is beginning to overheat, which is contributing to concerning levels of inflation. However, he asserted that Russia's economic growth surpasses that of several other nations, including the UK.

When a BBC reporter inquired if he had cared for Russia, as Boris Yeltsin had requested of him prior to stepping down from the presidency in late 1999, Mr. Putin responded affirmatively.

Mr. Putin stated, "We have stepped away from the brink of disaster. I have worked tirelessly to guarantee that Russia remains an independent and sovereign nation capable of making choices that serve its own interests."

Mr. Putin boasted about the unstoppable nature of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, suggesting he was prepared to arrange another test aimed at Ukraine to see if Western air defense systems could intercept it.

In Brussels, Mr. Zelensky brought this up during a press conference at a European Council meeting, asking, “Do you believe he is mentally stable?”

Russia is gradually making progress in Ukraine, though the pace is sluggish, and it has also experienced some humiliating failures. Recently, Lt Gen Igor Kirillov was killed in a bombing outside his apartment in Moscow. Ukraine has taken responsibility for this bold assassination, highlighting the ongoing conflict even within the Russian capital. In response, President Putin characterized the incident as a significant mistake on the part of Russia’s security forces.

This report was aided by contributions from Reuters and the Associated Press.