War in Ukraine: dialogue is possible only if all Russian demands are accepted, says Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday in an interview with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that dialogue for peace with Ukraine was possible only 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, said the Kremlin in a statement 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 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 Lugansk, in their administrative territories, while the rebels currently control only a third.

 

He said he hopes that the representatives of Kiev will adopt a reasonable and constructive position during the third round of negotiations scheduled according to Kiev this weekend.

 

Mr. Putin also assured that Russian forces were not bombing Kiev and major Ukrainian cities, calling information about the destruction carried out by Moscow a crude fabrication of propaganda.

 

He said that Moscow's goals and objectives in its war with Ukraine will undoubtedly be implemented.