Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said the country takes seriously claims made by Donald Trump that he has ways of ending the war in Ukraine swiftly.
“I don’t know anything about any such proposals from him on how to do it, and that is actually the key question,” Putin said at a news conference in Astana, Kazakhstan attended by summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “But I do not doubt that this is what he thinks, and we will help.”
This statement was made by him after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Bloomberg TV in an interview that Trump “should tell us today” what his plans for ending the war would be if he wins November’s US presidential election. Zelenskiy cautioned against making any proposal which violated Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Putin also told journalists that he had watched part of last week’s election debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump but declined to comment on it. Biden faces increasing calls to suspend his campaign following criticism over his performance during the debate.
However he has not revealed how exactly he envisages bringing an end to the now three-year-old conflict. Two former White House national security experts cited by Politico this week claim that there are discussions of a deal with Russia under which and this could be achieved by having NATO promise not to move closer to Moscow including Ukraine as well as Georgia.
In Astana last month Putin said Kyiv should initiate withdrawal from four eastern territories partially occupied by Russian forces before peace talks could begin. According to his conditions, which were immediately rejected out of hand by Kyiv as well as US and European allies, Ukraine would also have to renounce ever seeking membership in NATO.
Putin stated further in Astana that Russia won’t stop fighting until Ukraine meets certain requirements laid down by Moscow; he did not specify these demands.
“A ceasefire without reaching such agreements is impossible,” said Putin
The leader who spoke during another press briefing added that negotiations with Washington on strategic stability will not resume until after the US presidential election. The Russian authorities should first “understand the moods and preferences of the future administration,” Putin explained.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell claimed it would be “very difficult to continue arming Ukraine” without US support.
“Is Europe ready to continue supporting Ukraine militarily if the United States is not?” Borrell asked at a gathering in Madrid of the European Council on Foreign Affairs. “It’s definitely difficult but can it be done? But is there the political will? I have my doubts.”
