Kremlin: Putin ready for talks on Ukraine conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently expressed his willingness to engage in discussions regarding potential solutions to the situation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov made these remarks in response to reports that the team of President-elect Donald Trump plans to collaborate with the current US administration to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in 2024, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Peskov reiterated that President Putin has repeatedly confirmed his readiness to participate in the peace process, emphasizing Russia’s openness to negotiations.

In the final weeks of his presidency, Joe Biden is intensifying efforts to bolster Ukraine's position against Russia, aiming to strengthen Kyiv's hand before Donald Trump assumes office on January 20.

President-elect Trump has pledged to end the nearly three-year conflict initiated by Russia, likely through a negotiated settlement.

Biden's recent moves include allowing Ukrainian forces to target military sites deeper inside Russia, a significant shift viewed as an escalation by both Moscow and Trump's camp. This week alone, the administration authorized the deployment of anti-personnel landmines, forgave $5 billion in Ukrainian debt, and imposed sanctions on a major Russian bank facilitating natural gas payments.

Russia's response has been swift and provocative. President Vladimir Putin authorized a revised nuclear doctrine lowering the threshold for tactical atomic strikes and launched a hypersonic missile capable of carrying such warheads toward Ukraine.

While these steps could reinforce Ukraine's negotiating position, they may also inadvertently align with Trump’s goals. Shelby Magid of the Atlantic Council remarked that Biden's measures might strengthen Trump's leverage in achieving a settlement he could frame as a diplomatic triumph.

Trump and his advisors, however, remain critical of escalating US involvement. Representative Michael Waltz, slated to become Trump’s National Security Advisor, criticized the decision to provide Kyiv with long-range ATACMS missiles, labeling it a dangerous escalation.

By Vafa Guliyeva