Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday that dialogue for peace with Ukraine was only possible if “all Russian demands” were accepted.
“Russia is open to dialogue with the Ukrainian side, as well as with all those who want peace in Ukraine. But on condition that all Russian demands are met,” the Kremlin said in a report of the call, which took place “at the initiative of Germany.”
The Russian president repeated his demands: a “neutral and non-nuclear” status for Ukraine, its “compulsory demilitarization” and its “denazification”, the recognition of the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia and the “sovereignty of the pro-Russian separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, in their administrative territories, while the rebels currently control only a third of them.
He said he “hopes that Kyiv representatives will take a reasonable and constructive stance during the third round of talks” Kyiv said will be held this weekend.
Mr. Putin also assured that the Russian forces did not bombard Kiev and the major Ukrainian cities, describing as “gross fabrication of propaganda” the information on the destruction carried out by Moscow.
He claimed that Moscow’s “aims and objectives” in its war with Ukraine will “undoubtedly be implemented”.
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