Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict during the plenary session of the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Putin said a solution must first be reached between Moscow and Kyiv, while other countries, particularly the United States and China, were ready to support the process.
Putin said Russia and Ukraine were the parties to the conflict and described resolving the issue between them as the most appropriate approach. Asked whether there was an opportunity to reach an agreement, he replied, “I think there is.”
The plenary session also included Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, Myanmar Vice President Nyo Saw and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. Putin also assessed that the United States would focus on relations with Russia after the Ukraine crisis was resolved.
Putin accuses Ukraine
Putin claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had threatened Russian civil aviation. Putin argued that this stance was a “manifestation of state terrorism” and said it made peace talks more difficult.
Putin claimed that Ukraine’s Western allies had become partners in international terrorism by remaining silent about the situation. He said contacts with the United States were continuing and expressed hope that they would remain ongoing. Putin said he wanted full-format relations between Russia and the United States to be restored, adding that this depended on the positions of both sides.
Putin said U.S. President Donald Trump was interested in restoring relations with Russia and hoped the contacts would produce positive results. He also said that contacts with the Ukrainian side through intelligence services were continuing.
Putin rejects mobilization claims
Putin claimed that the Ukrainian army had carried out attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia and said Russia had responded to them. He said work to repair oil refineries hit in Russia was continuing and announced that 10 percent of the repairs remained.
Regarding the fuel problem in Russia, Putin said, “We must be ready for anything,” and rejected claims that a new wave of mobilization would be launched. He argued that the claims constituted an “information attack” being carried out ahead of elections for deputies to Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma.
Putin said there was no scenario that would require mobilization and that Russia was not experiencing problems with the number of military personnel.
Consular tensions with Germany
Putin recalled that Germany had decided to close Russia’s Consulate General in Bonn on the grounds that a drone carrying explosives had been found at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Putin argued that Germany’s decision had prevented Russian and German citizens from accessing consular and cultural services. He said Russia’s Embassy in Berlin would continue providing visa, passport and notarial services.
