Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will seek to achieve its goals in its invasion of Ukraine by force if an end to the war is not negotiated.
While United States President Donald Trump met with Putin in Alaska last month to discuss a potential end to the invasion, the summit ended without a deal. Russia has continued to target Ukraine with hundreds of drones in recent days, and has been building up its forces along parts of the frontline.
“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,” said Putin while visiting Beijing. Putin also said there was a “certain light at the end of the tunnel” due to the U.S.’s efforts to broker peace.
“If not, then we will have to resolve all the tasks before us by force of arms,” said Putin.
Putin said he would be willing to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for peace talks in Moscow, though Ukrainian officials said this was unworkable. “Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals,” said Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiga.
At least seven countries are prepared to host talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, including Switzerland, Turkey, and the Vatican, according to Sybiga.
U.S. President Donald Trump also plans to hold negotiations in the coming days. Trump will speak to Zelenskyy by phone on Thursday.
Other European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, will participate in the call. This follows a meeting between world leaders from France and the United Kingdom-led ‘coalition of the willing’ this week, a bloc of countries aiming to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Russia launched over 500 drones and two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, largely targeting western and central areas of the country. These attacks were particularly aimed at energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy said.
In Beijing, Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during China’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of its victory over Japan in World War II. North Korea has deployed soldiers to assist Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with Kim telling Putin today that it was North Korea’s “fraternal duty” to do so.
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