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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in search of compromise in potential talks to end the war in Ukraine almost three years after ordering the full-scale invasion of Moscow’s neighbor.
Speaking at his annual phone-in with journalists in Moscow, which lasted more than four hours, Putin claimed he hadn’t spoken to Trump in more than four years but that he was “ready” to discuss the war with the incoming U.S. leader “at any time.”
“If a meeting takes place at some point with the newly elected president, Mr. Trump, I am sure we will have plenty to talk about,” he said.
His comments come as Ukraine faces increasingly difficulties on the front line and braces for the return to power by Trump, who has previously vowed to end the conflict in one day. Kyiv, however, doesn’t trust Putin’s purported openness to compromise given that he has fueled a decade-long conflict with Ukraine, in which Russia has ravaged cities and people across the country.
Meanwhile, European capitals are discussing the contours of a possible peace deal and long-term security guarantees for Kyiv, with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte and several EU leaders to discuss future arrangements in Brussels on Wednesday.
Putin, who sounded bullish on Russia’s military gains in Ukraine during his marathon press conference, said Moscow has “always said that we are ready for compromises and negotiations,” but that “the other side needs to be ready” as well.
The longtime Russian leader said Moscow does not want a long-term cease-fire agreement but rather a “durable peace secured with guarantees for the Russian Federation and its citizens.”
Putin also claimed, without providing evidence, that Hungary’s pro-Russian leader Viktor Orbán had suggested agreeing a truce on the conflict over Christmas and a prisoner exchange — an idea he said Ukraine had refused.
At the same time, Putin insisted the Russian economy was “stable” while acknowledging that rising prices were an “alarming signal.” In recent months, the ruble has tumbled due to low oil prices and Western sanctions, while Moscow’s central bank has hiked interest rates to rein in surging inflation.
Despite that, Putin insisted he has “done everything” to ensure Russia’s continued sovereignty during his 24-year rule atop the country.
“I haven’t just protected Russia,” he said. Since his ascent to power, “I think we’ve come back from the edge of the abyss.”
Putin also touched on various domestic issues, including mortgages, telephone scammers and Russia’s demographic challenges during the phone-in.
