Putin Say Russia Open to Ending Ukraine War But Ukraine Is Not Ready For Talks As War Continues

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia was open to ending the war in Ukraine through peaceful negotiations, but claimed that Kyiv was unwilling to engage in talks, even as he asserted that Russian forces were gaining ground across the battlefield.

Putin made the remarks during his annual year-end “Results of the Year” news conference, a high-profile and closely managed event that serves as a platform for the Kremlin leader to address domestic issues and outline foreign policy priorities. His comments came as international diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, continue to seek an end to the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“We are ready and willing to end this conflict peacefully,” Putin said, adding that Russia does not see Ukraine as ready for negotiations. He stressed that any settlement would need to address what he described as the “root causes” of the war, language Moscow has repeatedly used to justify its security demands and territorial claims.

Kremlin Claims Battlefield Advantage

Putin devoted a significant portion of his address to the military situation, portraying Russian troops as firmly in control. He claimed that forces were advancing along the entire front line and that Ukrainian troops were retreating under sustained pressure. According to Putin, Russian units had entered the town of Huliaiipole in southeastern Ukraine, a claim that could not be independently verified.

He said Russia had “fully seized the strategic initiative” on the battlefield and predicted further territorial gains before the end of the year. The Associated Press has reported that Russia’s larger and better-equipped army has made gradual advances in recent months, particularly in eastern Ukraine, after months of intense and costly fighting. Reuters also noted that Putin provided a detailed battlefield assessment, reiterating his claim of steady progress across the front.

Ukraine, however, has repeatedly challenged Moscow’s narrative. Ukrainian officials say Russian gains have been limited and incremental, achieved at the cost of heavy casualties, while Ukrainian forces continue to hold defensive positions and conduct counterattacks in selected areas.

Peace Conditions Remain Unchanged

Putin said Russia’s peace terms remain unchanged from those he outlined in June 2024. At that time, he said any agreement would require Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw from four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — which Russia claims as its own territory.

Those conditions also include demands that Ukraine pull back from parts of eastern Ukraine that Russian forces do not fully control. Kyiv has firmly rejected these demands, saying they amount to a loss of sovereignty and territorial integrity, a stance strongly backed by European allies.

Diplomatic Pressure Builds

Putin’s comments come as Washington intensifies diplomatic pressure to bring the war to an end. US President Donald Trump has launched a renewed push for talks, arguing that the nearly four-year conflict poses increasing risks to global stability.

The US-led initiative has raised concerns in Ukraine and across Europe, where leaders fear a negotiated settlement could favour Moscow by freezing the conflict on terms advantageous to Russia. The Kremlin says it is waiting to see how US peace proposals may change after consultations with Kyiv and European partners.

Putin’s appearance at the year-end news conference underlined the growing tension between diplomacy and battlefield realities. While Moscow continues to signal openness to talks, its core demands remain unchanged, leaving a wide gap between Russian and Ukrainian positions and casting doubt on the prospects for a near-term peace agreement.