Putin says Russia is open to negotiations with Ukraine but accuses Kyiv of being uncooperative

Speaking previously about possible talks, the Russian President emphasised that any peace deal should respect the “realities on the ground.”

Transcript

00:00Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to engage in peace talks with

00:05Ukraine but claims there is no desire on the Ukrainian side to negotiate.

00:12Speaking to Russian reporters on Tuesday, Putin also said Ukrainian President Volodymyr

00:18Zelensky is not legitimate to lead the talks.

00:21Vladimir Putin, Russian President

00:52Putin has previously said Ukraine must renounce its NATO bid and fully withdraw its forces

00:57from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, the regions Russia annexed in September 2022.

01:06Moscow also wants the West to lift its sanctions that have limited Russia's access to global

01:11markets and dealt a heavy blow to the country's economy.

01:16Zelensky has responded by emphasising the need for a comprehensive agreement, not a

01:21temporary halt in fighting that would only allow Russia to rearm.