Russian President Vladimir Putin has cast fresh doubt on prospects for peace talks with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of “state terrorism” and saying its warnings over the safety of Russian airspace and attacks on commercial shipping have made negotiations more difficult.
Speaking at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin said Ukraine's actions “complicate the prospects for bilateral peace talks,” even as he acknowledged that an eventual agreement to end the war remained possible.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned airlines and insurance companies that Russian airspace was becoming increasingly unsafe because of Ukrainian drone operations. Kyiv has stressed that its drones target Russian military facilities and do not deliberately threaten civilian aircraft. Ukraine has also urged the UN's aviation agency to ask member states to restrict operations in Russian airspace.
Putin described the aviation warning and Ukrainian attacks on civilian merchant ships as “acts of state terrorism.” His comments followed even stronger remarks earlier in the week, when he said peace talks were “frozen to a certain extent” and declared that “one does not negotiate with terrorists.”
The Russian leader also dismissed speculation that Moscow was preparing another general military mobilisation as “utter nonsense.”
Despite the increasingly hostile rhetoric, diplomatic channels remain open. Putin said Russia continues to engage with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has been attempting to broker an end to the war. He said countries including the United States and China were prepared to support a settlement, while maintaining that Russia and Ukraine would ultimately have to resolve the conflict themselves.
Trump has indicated that he remains prepared to meet Putin again as part of efforts to secure an agreement. US envoys are also expected to visit Moscow and Kyiv as Washington attempts to revive negotiations, with no direct peace talks having taken place since February.
India has meanwhile offered to assist diplomatic efforts. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during a visit to Kyiv, said, “If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there.”
