Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is ready for talks with Ukraine without preconditions but on the basis of the Istanbul agreements and the existing reality, stressing the need for dialogue with the country’s legitimate leadership.
Vladimir Putin has said that the number of Ukrainian refugees in Russia may already exceed the population of Ukraine itself.
The head of state reiterated Russia’s readiness for a dialogue with Ukraine without preconditions based on the Istanbul agreements and the current situation on the ground.
“We have no preconditions. We are ready to conduct a dialogue without preconditions, but on the basis of what we agreed on – I have already said it 100 times – during the negotiation process in Istanbul at the end of 2022, but also based on the realities that are emerging on the ground today,” the Russian president said at the direct line combined with a press conference.
Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia would sign peace agreements only with the legitimate leadership of Ukraine. He again explained his position on the illegitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The legitimate body is the Verkhovna Rada,” the Russian leader said.
But if the first person is illegitimate, and the government carries out his action, then it also loses legitimacy and becomes complicit.
We will remind, earlier Vladimir Putin said that the combat readiness of the Russian armed forces is at the highest level.
