Russian President Putin reiterated that Russia generally agrees to use the U.S. list for resolving the Ukraine issue as the basis for future negotiations. The peace agreement must immediately lift the state of war and initiate elections upon signing; however, Ukraine currently lacks the necessary legal procedures and is not qualified to sign binding documents at the legal level, rendering negotiations with the current Ukrainian leadership meaningless.
Russian President Putin publicly discussed the peace plan for the first time since the recent intensive diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and Ukraine.
According to CCTV News, on November 27 local time, Russian President Putin stated in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, that a U.S. delegation would visit Moscow next week. Putin reiterated that Russia generally agrees to use the U.S. list for resolving the Ukraine issue as the basis for future negotiations.
Putin noted that the special departments of Russia and Ukraine have been maintaining contact. Both sides primarily discuss humanitarian issues such as prisoner exchanges in Abu Dhabi. Recently, U.S. representatives indeed held talks with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi.
The report stated that Putin indicated the U.S. seemed to be 'considering' Russia's position on peacefully resolving the issue. Moscow is also prepared for 'serious discussions' when U.S. Special Envoy Steve Vetterkov visits Moscow next week for talks.
According to CCTV, during the subsequent press conference, Putin stated that the peace agreement must immediately lift the state of war and initiate elections upon signing; however, Ukraine currently lacks the necessary legal procedures and is not qualified to sign binding documents at the legal level. Putin remarked that negotiations with the current Ukrainian leadership are not meaningful at this stage.
Previously, Trump stated on Tuesday that there had been 'significant progress' on the peace proposal over the past week, the original draft of which had sparked strong opposition from Ukraine and European parties.
Focus on Russia
According to CCTV News, Putin said that, to his knowledge, Ukraine and the U.S. reorganized the 28-point plan into four parts during the Geneva talks, which could serve as the basis for negotiations.
Putin pointed out that around the Anchorage, Alaska meeting, he and U.S. Presidential Envoy Vetterkov had both been in contact. Both Russian and American sides understand the current situation in Ukraine and the direction for resolving the issue.
Putin stated that communications, including the meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio in New York, were conducted within the framework of the outcomes of the Anchorage talks. According to reports, Putin stated:
Overall, we see that the U.S. side has taken our position into account. We absolutely need to sit down and seriously discuss some specific matters somewhere.
As previously mentioned by Wall Street News, after prolonged negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, officials from both sides ultimately reached a new 19-point peace agreement that is more favorable to Kyiv.
Zelenskyy confirmed this progress in his speech on Monday, stating that 'after the Geneva talks, the number of provisions was reduced—it is no longer 28 points, and this framework incorporates many correct elements.'
He emphasized that although much work remains to finalize the document, he plans to soon discuss these sensitive issues with President Trump. According to the Ukrainian side, the remaining politically sensitive core elements will be decided directly at the level of heads of state.
Analysts believe the ball is now back in Russia’s court to see whether it can accept this framework and proceed on that basis.
It is still too early to reach a peace agreement.
According to CCTV reports, Putin stated that European countries should communicate through diplomatic language. At present, claims by these countries’ leaders to the public that Russia will attack Europe are unfounded.
When asked whether Russia had already reached a conclusion on whether nuclear tests should resume, Putin stated that Russia is willing to jointly explore strategic stability issues with the United States.
Putin noted that Russia would raise the issue of nuclear testing in next week's negotiations with U.S. representatives. He emphasized that Moscow is prepared for any developments.
According to CCTV reports, Russian President’s Press Secretary Peskov stated on Wednesday that it is still too early to discuss the imminent conclusion of a peace agreement with Ukraine. He urged all parties not to prematurely assume that the conflict in Ukraine is about to end.
Earlier that day, Yury Ushakov, an assistant to the Russian President, claimed that Russia has not yet received the official version of the latest Ukraine agreement draft supported by the United States, but an unofficial version has been seen.
Editor/Liam