Putin says he's ready to end war with Ukraine 'by force' if not by talks
Russian president told reporters in Beijing he hopes 'common sense prevails'
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Kyiv on Wednesday that there was a chance to end the war in Ukraine via negotiations "if common sense prevails" but that he was ready to end it by force if that was the only way.
Speaking in China at the end of a visit there, Putin said he perceived "a certain light at the end of the tunnel" given what he said were sincere efforts by the United States to find a settlement to Europe's biggest land war since the Second World War.
"It seems to me that if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict. That is my assumption," he told reporters in Beijing.
"Especially since we can see the mood of the current U.S. administration under President Trump, and we see not just their statements, but their sincere desire to find this solution.
"Let's see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms."
Putin did not, however, indicate any willingness to soften his longstanding demands that Ukraine abandon any ideas of joining NATO, reverse what Moscow has described as discrimination against Russian speakers and ethnic Russians or step back from the idea that Moscow must have full control of at least the Donbas area in Eastern Ukraine.
He said he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow, but that it remained to be seen whether such a meeting was worthwhile.
Ukraine says offer unacceptable
Putin's proposal is unacceptable, the Kyiv government said.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that at least seven countries, including Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland and three Gulf states, were ready to host the meeting.
"These are serious proposals and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any point in time," he said on X. "Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals."
A
man carrying a sleeping child enters a metro station to take shelter
during an overnight air raid alert in Kyiv, amid Russia's attacks on
Ukraine on Wednesday. (Alina Smutko/Reuters)
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, called for more pressure on Moscow as he kicked off a visit to European allies he hopes will unveil plans for security guarantees for Kyiv, even as Russian forces launched their latest massive air attack.
Russia launched more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine, hitting energy and transport infrastructure at 14 sites across the country and injuring four railway workers. Separately, regional officials later said that at least nine people were killed in the eastern town of Kostiantynivka, a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian troops defending a key swathe of the front line.
"These are clearly demonstrative Russian strikes. It is only due to the lack of sufficient pressure, primarily on Russia's war economy, that this aggression continues," Zelenskyy said on the Telegram app shortly before arriving in Denmark for talks with Nordic and Baltic allies.
"We will be discussing the need for strong pressure measures with our partners in the coming days," he said.
Danish
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks with Ukraine's President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as she hosts the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) leaders
meeting at Marienborg, near Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters)
'Is there any point?' asks Putin
In Beijing, Putin repeated his view that Zelenskyy, who has not faced re-election due to martial law despite his official term in office expiring, was illegitimate. Kyiv flatly rejects that, saying it is impossible to hold meaningful elections at a time of war.
Zelenskyy has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal even though the two sides remain far apart, urging Washington to sanction Moscow again if Putin doesn't agree.
U.S. President Donald Trump — who has been trying to broker a peace settlement — has also said he wants the two leaders to meet, and has spoken of, but not imposed, secondary sanctions on Russia.
Putin told reporters he had always been open to meeting Zelenskyy but reiterated the Kremlin's oft-repeated stance that such a meeting had to be well prepared in advance and lead to tangible results.
"As for a meeting with Zelenskyy, I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting," said Putin. "But is there any point? Let's see."
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