Putin Signals Openness to Peace Talks, Warns West Over NATO and Russian Assets
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia remains open to peace negotiations over Ukraine but placed responsibility for any progress squarely on Kyiv and its Western backers during his annual end-of-year press conference on Friday.
Putin said Moscow has consistently expressed readiness to resolve the conflict through dialogue, provided negotiations address what he described as the “root causes” of the crisis, including NATO’s eastward expansion and Russia’s long-standing security concerns.
While noting that Russia has yet to see firm readiness from Ukraine, Putin said there were indications that Kyiv may be willing to engage in talks. He added that Russia remains prepared for negotiations and a peaceful settlement that would ensure long-term regional stability.
Putin also spoke positively about peace initiatives attributed to former US President Donald Trump, saying Russia had agreed in principle to proposed compromises during earlier discussions. He rejected claims that Moscow had dismissed US peace proposals, insisting that Russia had demonstrated flexibility.
Turning to Ukraine’s political future, Putin said Russia would consider measures to ensure election security in Ukraine, including refraining from attacks deep inside Ukrainian territory on polling day. He added that any future elections should allow millions of Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Russia to vote, stressing that a legitimate Ukrainian government could only emerge through elections.
On relations with Europe, Putin dismissed speculation that Russia intends to attack European countries, calling such claims “nonsense.” He accused Western leaders of escalating tensions by expanding NATO infrastructure toward Russia’s borders and said Moscow would cease hostilities immediately if its security interests were respected.
Putin also warned European countries against attempts to seize frozen Russian assets, describing such actions as “daylight robbery” that could undermine trust in the eurozone and destabilize the global financial system. He said Russia would pursue legal avenues to defend its interests and recover any confiscated assets.
Addressing the battlefield situation, Putin claimed Russian forces now hold the strategic initiative along the entire front line, asserting that Ukrainian troops are retreating in all directions following Russian advances.
On the domestic front, Putin said Russia’s economic slowdown was a deliberate policy choice aimed at curbing inflation, which he said was expected to fall below 6% by year-end. He added that real wages are projected to grow by about 4.5%, while the federal budget deficit is expected to narrow over the coming years.
He defended the government’s decision to raise value-added tax (VAT), describing it as a transparent measure to maintain a balanced budget, and said Russia’s public debt remains among the lowest of major economies.
Putin also voiced support for the Central Bank of Russia’s cautious approach to interest rate cuts, stressing the need to balance inflation control with investment growth.
The press conference underscored Moscow’s continued insistence that any resolution to the Ukraine conflict must include binding security guarantees and an overhaul of Europe’s security architecture.