Russia** Putin said on December 19 that Russia would be ready to engage in dialogue with Ukraine, the United States and Europe on Ukraine's future if they wanted to, but Moscow would defend its "national interests."
After sending troops to Ukraine in 2022, Putin has repeatedly said that he is ready to talk about peace, but the West ** believes that Putin is waiting for the results of the United States *** next November before making real peace talks efforts.
On Tuesday, Putin said at a meeting of the defense leadership: "Those in Ukraine who are aggressive towards Russia, and those in Europe and the United States, do they want to negotiate?".Then come on. But we will do it in accordance with Russia's national interests. Putin said, "We will not give up what belongs to us." ”
At the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia controlled about 17 percent of the territory of Ukraine5%。Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and said last year that four other Ukrainian regions partially controlled by its military belonged to Russia. Putin said that if Ukraine joins NATO, "Russia will not accept it in 10 years, let alone 20 years."
Ukraine, on the other hand, has responded by saying that it will not stop fighting until the last Russian soldier is expelled from Ukraine.
In an interview with Russian state television on Sunday, Putin dismissed claims that Moscow could attack NATO countries in the future and said that such a conflict would be contrary to Russia's national interests.
A few weeks ago, Biden warned that if Putin wins in Ukraine, he could be emboldened to attack NATO allies, triggering World War III.
On the same time as Putin's annual press conference last week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on December 14 that Putin showed no signs of preparing for peace.
Stoltenberg said the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine is to convince Putin that he cannot win on the battlefield and that allies will continue to support Ukraine.