Putin says Russia seeks to end conflict in Ukraine
Russia seeks to end the conflict in Ukraine rather than to freeze it. Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters after a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) on December 26.
"We, too, seek the end of the conflict," Putin said, commenting on the plans of US President-elect Donald Trump's team to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, adding that Russia does not need its freezing.
The head of state commented on the information about the possible end of the conflict in 2025 with a Russian saying: "That's what they say in our nation, yes, you should drink honey with your mouth".
In addition, Putin noted that the current U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021 proposed to postpone Ukraine's admission to NATO for 10-15 years.
"For us what is the difference, today, tomorrow or in 10 years, and in this sense I am not familiar with these statements of the future team of the president-elect, but if this is the case, what is the difference between the current administration and those proposals that you just mentioned," Putin said.
Also at the press approach, the head of state said that Russia always responds mirror-like to strikes on its territory.
"We always respond in a mirror way. They use certain weapons against us - we use the same. Here they (Ukraine. - Ed.) used 5-7 ATASMS systems. The Russian army responded with a comprehensive strike - 221 strikes with long-range precision weapons. <...> We are acting systematically," Putin noted.
He also responded to a question about the subject of talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo, which took place in the Kremlin on December 22. According to the Russian president, his Slovak counterpart mainly talked about the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
On December 19, the Russian president, during a press conference combined with a live line "Results of the Year", once again expressed readiness for negotiations on the basis of the Istanbul agreements, and also said that he would meet with Trump. The future American leader the next day said that he was waiting for a meeting with Putin.
Prior to that, on December 16, the US president-elect said he intended to initiate talks with Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (whose term expired on May 20) on conflict resolution.
On December 13, Trump's team said it was in talks with the current White House administration and Ukrainian officials to end the conflict in Ukraine. On the same day, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg allowed the conflict in Ukraine to end in the coming months.
On December 3, Kellogg 's plan to resolve the Ukrainian conflict was published. He proposed to end the political isolation of the Russian Federation, as well as to retain the territories liberated by Russia. In addition, he proposed a long postponement of the issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO. At the same time, his plan includes continuing military support for Kiev and providing it with security guarantees.
The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.
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