Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Ukraine’s current leadership has “no legitimacy” and insisted that there is no reason to negotiate with it.
He argued that Kyiv lost its mandate when it decided not to hold elections after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s term ended. Ukraine, however, maintains that national elections cannot take place under martial law as the country continues defending itself against Russia.
Draft Peace Text Could Be a Basis for Talks
Putin acknowledged that the outline of a draft peace plan discussed between the United States and Ukraine might serve as a starting point for future negotiations.
“In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,” he said. He added that Russia had received the version discussed in Geneva.
According to Putin, the United States has considered Russia’s position, but several issues still need discussion. He also said Russia would be willing to give Europe a pledge not to attack if European nations wanted such an assurance.
Putin stated that Russia was still being asked to stop the fighting. But he repeated Russia’s main demand, “Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the territories they hold, and then the fighting will cease. If they don’t leave, then we shall achieve this by armed means. That’s it.”
He said Russian troops were now advancing in Ukraine at a faster rate.
Putin further argued that since he considers Ukraine’s leadership illegitimate, it would be “legally impossible” to sign any deal directly with Kyiv. Therefore, any agreement must be recognised internationally and must acknowledge Russia’s territorial gains.
He dismissed claims that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had shown a pro-Russia bias in peace discussions, calling the accusation “nonsense.”
Italy Says Putin’s Motives Will Soon Be Clear
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday that the world would soon know whether Putin truly wants peace. He noted that the war was financially draining for Russia despite higher military spending.
Crosetto, a co-founder of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, said Europe must also think about Russia’s economic recovery once the war ends, along with Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The United States recently introduced an updated plan to halt Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The first outline had alarmed Kyiv and European allies, who feared it favoured Russia too heavily.
Moscow has called the ongoing talks “serious,” but European leaders remain sceptical. French President Emmanuel Macron recently said there was “clearly no Russian willingness” to agree to a ceasefire.
Crosetto said after meeting France’s defence minister in Paris, “I don’t know what Putin has in mind.”
He added: “We hope that this time Russia will truly want to sit down at the table and negotiate. Looking at what’s happening, I’m not optimistic.”
He pointed out that Russia was still recruiting soldiers and increasing defence spending.
However, he also warned that Europe should not ignore Russia’s long-term transition from a war economy, or else risk the conflict resurfacing.
Putin Restates Russia’s Conditions for a Ceasefire
During a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin repeated that Russia would stop its offensive only if Ukrainian forces withdrew from the territories Moscow claims as its own.
“If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations,” he said. “If they don’t, then we will achieve it by military means."
Russia currently occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukraine. This territorial issue has become the biggest obstacle in peace efforts, as Kyiv has firmly declared it will never surrender its land.
Putin also repeated Russia’s claim that Ukrainian troops were surrounded in Pokrovsk and Myrnograd in Donetsk, the region that has seen the most intense battles.
“Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov are completely surrounded,” he said, using the Russian names for the same cities.
He added that Russian forces were pushing forward in Vovchansk and Siversk and moving closer to Guliaipole, an important logistics hub.