Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is ready to promote a peaceful solution for Ukraine, but Moscow still prioritizes the completion of the set goals.
In a speech broadcast on state television, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Putin had repeatedly expressed his desire to soon end the conflict by negotiation, but it was a long process, requiring persistent efforts and not easy to achieve immediate results.
Mr. Peskov emphasized that the most important thing for Russia at present is to achieve its goals and those goals have been clearly defined. According to him, President Putin affirmed that the path to peace does not mean giving up what was set out from the beginning in the conflict with Ukraine.
Mr. Peskov's speech also mentioned the stance of US President Donald Trump. Although Mr. Trump sometimes makes tough statements, the world is used to the leader's strong way of speaking. However, Mr. Trump still expressed his desire to seek a peace agreement with Russia. This is considered an important signal in the context of continued tension between the two sides.
The Russian statement came just days after Trump pledged additional aid to Ukraine, including patriot missile defense systems. At the same time, he also gave Russia a 50-day deadline for accepting a ceasefire, otherwise facing additional sanctions. This move shows Mr. Trump's more determined stance towards Russia, while adding pressure on Moscow amidst the lack of progress in peace negotiations.
Russia's response is seen as an affirmation that it remains open to dialogue, but will not abandon its strategic goals. In the context that all relevant parties have their own steps, the path to a peaceful solution for Ukraine is still full of thorns and the end time cannot be predicted.
