MOSCOW, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia is prepared to engage in negotiations with Kyiv, a significant shift from his earlier stance of rejecting talks amidst Ukraine’s recent military activities.
This development came after Ukraine’s surprise incursion into the Kursk region in early August, which saw thousands of Ukrainian troops crossing the border and capturing numerous towns and villages. The incursion had previously prompted Putin to dismiss any prospect of negotiations with Kyiv.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin emphasized that Russia’s readiness for dialogue is contingent upon revisiting a proposed agreement from 2022. This agreement, discussed during negotiations in Istanbul, was reportedly never finalized or publicly disclosed. Putin stressed that any future talks should be based on this specific set of documents rather than new demands or conditions.
The Kremlin has long claimed that in the spring of 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two sides were on the verge of reaching a deal. Putin asserted that an agreement was indeed achieved, citing the signature of the head of the Ukrainian delegation as evidence of Ukrainian satisfaction with the terms. However, he contended that the deal was never implemented due to external pressures, suggesting that the United States, Europe, and certain European countries were intent on securing a strategic defeat for Russia.
This recent openness to dialogue marks a notable shift in Russia’s approach to the ongoing conflict and raises questions about the potential for renewed peace talks. The reference to the Istanbul agreement, which remains shrouded in secrecy, underscores the complexity of the negotiation process and the challenges of reaching a resolution in the ongoing conflict.
