Putin: Russia ready to negotiate with all parties involved over Ukraine

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin has said that his country is ready to negotiate with all parties involved in the war in Ukraine.

The President said this during an interview that aired recently.

While talking to Rossiya 1 State Television, he said: “We are ready to negotiate with everyone involved about acceptable solutions, but that is up to them – we are not the ones refusing to negotiate, they are.

“I believe that we are acting in the right direction, defending our national interests, the interests of our citizens, our people. And we have no other choice but to protect our citizens.”

When asked if the geopolitical conflict with the West was getting to a dangerous level, Putin said: “I don’t think it’s so dangerous.”

He stated further that the West had begun the war in 2014 by toppling a pro-Russian Ukrainian President in the Maidan Revolution protests.

Subsequently, Russia annexed Crimea and Russian-backed separatist forces started fighting in eastern Ukraine.

He said: “Actually, the fundamental thing here is the policy of our geopolitical opponents which is aimed at pulling apart Russia, historical Russia.”

He stated that Russia is a “unique country” and the vast majority of its people were united in wanting to defend it.

He said: “As for the main part – the 99.9% of our citizens, our people who are ready to give everything for the interests of the Motherland – there is nothing unusual for me here.

“This just once again convinces me that Russia is a unique country and that we have exceptional people. This has been confirmed throughout the history of Russia’s existence.”

In his reaction, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Putin must return to reality and acknowledge it was Russia that did not want talks.