Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has described China, India and Brazil as potential mediators for Ukraine peace talks. His statement came on Thursday, appearing to signal a new approach to negotiations.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said a preliminary agreement between Russia and Ukraine from the first weeks of the war could serve as a foundation. The deal, reached during talks in Istanbul, was never implemented.
Negotiations Based On 2022 Agreement
He said Russia was willing to negotiate but stressed that any talks must be based on the Istanbul agreement reached in 2022. The terms of the agreement have not been made public.
Putin blamed the deal’s failure on external influences. He claimed the U.S. and some European countries ordered Ukraine to abandon the agreement. According to Putin, these elites wanted to strategically defeat Russia.
The Kremlin has maintained that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal in early 2022. Putin emphasized that the Ukrainian delegation had initially accepted the terms during the Istanbul talks.
It’s not clear if the idea of mediation was discussed with Modi during his visit to Moscow in July or is it of more recent origin. It is generally accepted that no peace deal is possible until after the US elections.
Initially, Putin had dismissed negotiations while Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region continued.
Ongoing Attacks
In August, Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, sending thousands of troops and capturing several villages. Following this, Putin said there could be no talks.
Russia has also retaliated and been pounding Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones in the past 10 days.
On Wednesday, Russia fired missiles and bombs into Ukraine’s Kyiv and Lviv cities. This attack came in just a day after a Russian missile strike hit a military institute in Ukraine’s Poltava. It is seen as the war’s deadliest single attack this year, killing 50 people and wounding hundreds more.
(With inputs from Reuters)
