Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Kiev that there is a chance to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations "if common sense prevails," an option he would prefer, but he stressed that he is ready to end it by force if that is the only way.
Speaking in China at the end of a visit to the country, Putin said he saw "a certain light at the end of the tunnel" thanks to what he said were sincere efforts by the United States to find a solution to the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.
"It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict. That is my assumption," he told reporters in Beijing.
"Especially because we can see the mood of the current US administration under President Trump, and we see not only their statements, but also their sincere desire to find this solution. And I think there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel. Let's see how the situation will develop. If not, then we will have to solve all the tasks ahead of us by force of arms," Putin said, according to Reuters.
Putin, however, has shown no willingness to soften his long-standing demands that Ukraine abandon the idea of joining NATO, reverse what Moscow describes as discrimination against Russian speakers and ethnic Russians, or back down from the position that Moscow must have full control over at least the Donbass in eastern Ukraine.
He said he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelensky if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow, but that it remained to be seen whether such a meeting would make sense.
He reiterated his position that Zelensky, who did not face re-election due to the state of war even though his official term had expired, is illegitimate. Kiev categorically rejects this, arguing that it is impossible to hold a meaningful electoral process during a time of war.
Zelensky continues to insist on meeting with Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal, even though the two sides remain far apart, calling on Washington to reimpose sanctions on Moscow if Putin does not agree.
US President Donald Trump, who is trying to broker a peace deal, has also said he wants the two leaders to meet and has talked about secondary sanctions against Russia, but has not yet imposed them.
Putin told reporters that he had always been open to meeting with Zelensky, but reiterated the Kremlin's oft-stated position that such a meeting must be well prepared in advance and must yield tangible results.
"As for the meeting with Zelensky, I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But does it make sense? We'll see," Putin said.
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