Putin Emphasizes that Ukraine Peace Must Be ‘Lasting’

Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that any peace agreement regarding Ukraine must be enduring, amid ongoing conflicts and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. His comments highlight the complexities of achieving a sustainable resolution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow seeks a long-term peace agreement with Kiev, rather than just a temporary truce.

During a meeting on Friday with the leaders of prominent BRICS media agencies at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, just outside Moscow, Putin emphasized that Russia’s objective is to safeguard its long-term security interests.

He mentioned that any peace processes discussed should not involve a ceasefire lasting just a week, two weeks, or even a year, allowing NATO countries supporting Ukraine to rearm and gather new ammunition.

The Russian leader stated that Moscow aims to establish “conditions for a long-term, sustainable, and enduring peace that ensures equal security for all parties involved in this challenging process.”

Putin emphasized that the Russian government “respects and understands” their “friends’” commitment in BRICS and other regions to resolve the Ukrainian crisis “as swiftly as possible through peaceful means.”

Moscow acknowledges that the conflict is “a disruptive factor in international and European affairs, as well as in economic matters. We are more eager than anyone to see it end swiftly and through peaceful means,” he stated.

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The head of state asserted that Russia is prepared to resume negotiations with Ukraine, but only under the conditions outlined in the document developed in Istanbul at the end of March 2022, which was when both parties last engaged in discussions.

Putin stated last month that talks held in Türkiye revealed Kiev’s readiness to adopt military neutrality, reduce its armed forces, and cease discrimination against ethnic Russians. In exchange, Moscow would have collaborated with other major world powers to provide Ukraine with security guarantees.

“The Russian president stated that the document did not come into effect because Ukrainians were instructed not to proceed. He mentioned that elites in the US and certain European nations wanted to pursue Russia’s strategic defeat.”

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky unveiled his “victory plan” for the conflict between Kiev and Moscow during an address to the national parliament. According to Zelensky, this strategy excludes negotiations with Russia and instead urges Western countries “to strengthen Ukraine” as a means of achieving a diplomatic resolution.

“This plan is feasible to implement and relies on our partners. I want to stress that it depends solely on them—not on Russia,” he asserted.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov implied that Zelensky’s proposal is simply a blueprint for prolonging the conflict. He stated that peace can only be realized if the Kiev government “sobs up” and recognizes the underlying issues that sparked the hostilities.