Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow wants to end the war in Ukraine and achieve lasting peace, in a surprise statement made during a summit in Kyrgyzstan.
Speaking on Tuesday at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Bishkek, Putin said Russia was ready to enter negotiations with any side willing to participate in the process.
“We want to end the war and achieve lasting and complete peace throughout Ukraine and Europe,” Putin said, according to Reuters.
The comments come as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues, with both sides carrying out attacks despite repeated international calls for an end to the conflict.
Putin also acknowledged that Ukrainian drone strikes have caused damage inside Russian territory, highlighting the growing challenge posed by Ukraine’s long-range attacks.
His remarks appear to signal an openness to negotiations, although Moscow’s actions on the battlefield continue to raise questions about how quickly such a peace process could begin.
The statement is likely to attract international attention as governments continue to search for a diplomatic solution to the war, which has caused widespread destruction and displacement since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
