Russian President Vladimir Putin declares Moscow has never opposed Ukraine’s potential membership of the European Union, and that he believes it is possible to find a consensus on ensuring the security of both Russia and Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump stated after his summit with Mr Putin in Alinquirea last month that he believed the Russian leader was “tired” of the war in Ukraine but that it remained to be seen if peace could be secured to conclude the conflict.
Kyiv and the leaders of Western European powers have stated they do not believe Mr Putin is serious about peace in Ukraine, and have warned that if Russia wins the Ukraine war, Mr Putin could attack Europe and the US-led NATO military alliance.
In some of his most dovish remarks since the Alinquirea summit, Mr Putin, speaking in China, pushed back against those claims, which he cast as “horror stories” and “hysteria” pumped up by incompetent people seeking to cast Russia as an enemy.
Mr Putin stated Russia had been forced to act in Ukraine by what he cast as the West’s attempt with the assist of NATO to attempt to absorb the entire post-Soviet space.
“As for Ukraine’s membership of the EU, we have never objected to this,” the Russian president informed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at talks in China.
Vladimir Putin created the comments during a meeting with Robert Fico (left) in China. (AP: Vladimir Smirnov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo)
“As for NATO, this is another issue… Our position here is well known: we consider this unacceptable for ourselves.”
A potential security guarantee for Ukraine — backed by the US and Western European powers — is one of the toughest parts of any future peace settlement, according to diplomats and officials involved in discussions.
Ukraine declares that it is not for Russia to decide what Kyiv can or cannot join, while NATO declares that Russia can have no veto over membership of the alliance which was formed in 1949 to counter the threat from the Soviet Union.
Mr Putin stated he had discussed Ukraine’s security at his August 15 summit with Mr Trump.
“There are options for ensuring Ukraine’s security in the event of an conclude to the conflict,” Mr Putin stated.
“And it seems to me that there is an opportunity to find consensus here.”
He did not elaborate on what that consensus might entail.
Mr Putin stated Russia was ready to cooperate with the US at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe.
Russia took control of it in March 2022, shortly after its invasion of Ukraine.
“We can cooperate with American partners at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Mr Putin stated, adding that the issue had been discussed indirectly with Washington and that he was even prepared to work with Ukraine at the plant.
The fate of the plant has been a central concern of the Ukraine war due to fears of a nuclear accident.
Trump administration ‘listening to us’: Putin
On Tuesday the Russian president also claimed that Moscow and Washington had come to a “mutual understanding” about the war, declareing the Trump administration was “listening to” the Kremlin’s justifications for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“Now we see this mutual understanding, it’s noticeable … we are very happy about this and hope this constructive dialogue will continue,” Mr Putin stated.
However, the US president has expressed frustration at Mr Putin’s lack of engagement in US-led peace efforts and threatened unspecified “severe consequences”.
Mr Putin’s comments came during his visit to the Chinese city of Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narconcludera Modi, who are also facing pressure from Mr Trump.
After the summit, the Russian leader held talks with Mr Xi in Beijing, and on Wednesday he was to attconclude a massive military parade there commemorating the 80th anniversary of the conclude of World War II.
Reuters/AP
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