Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow remains open to negotiations with Ukraine, but stressed that the conditions he set out more than a year ago have not changed.
Speaking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin described Russia’s demands — including Ukraine’s neutral status, demilitarization, and recognition of territories annexed by Russia — as “goals” rather than bargaining terms.
“These conditions remain the same. They are not mere terms, they are objectives for Russia,” Putin said.
The Russian leader also referred to earlier discussions in Istanbul, calling them “generally positive,” particularly for leading to prisoner and body exchanges.
“Hundreds of people returned home. We handed over thousands of bodies of Ukrainian soldiers and received back several dozen of our own. Isn’t that positive? Of course, it is,” he added.
Putin said Russia would wait if Ukraine believed “now is not the time” for talks.
“If Ukraine’s leadership thinks it’s not the right time, we can wait,” he told reporters.
Background to the Conditions: in June 2024, Putin laid out demands for Ukraine to abandon its NATO aspirations, accept a neutral status, scale back its military, and recognize Russian control over occupied territories.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by saying Kyiv was ready for direct talks with Putin “at any time” if Moscow was serious about “ending the war honorably and establishing a lasting peace.”
Zelenskyy also thanked international partners, including U.S. President Donald Trump, for their efforts to end the conflict and urged Russia to move from “statements to substantive dialogue.
