Putin Says Russia Ready For Fresh Ukraine Peace Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is ready for fresh negotiations to end the war in Ukraine if efforts to resolve the conflict can gain new momentum.

Putin made the remarks on Tuesday after attending a summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he maintained that Russian forces were advancing on the battlefield while leaving the door open to renewed diplomacy.

“We are not against if anyone is able to bring positive momentum,” Putin said when asked about the prospect of restarting negotiations.

The Russian leader, however, struck a combative tone on the battlefield, claiming that his forces were making gains and expressing confidence that Ukrainian troops would eventually “crumble”.

He also identified Ukrainian drone attacks as a major challenge for Russian forces but said Moscow was taking measures to counter the threat.

Putin’s comments came amid renewed diplomatic activity involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, although previous US-backed efforts to broker a settlement have failed to overcome major disagreements, particularly over territory.

Recent contacts between Washington and Moscow have nevertheless raised hopes of reviving negotiations. US officials have stepped up engagement with Russian representatives, while President Donald Trump’s administration has continued to explore ways of ending the war.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently travelled to Moscow, where he held talks with senior Russian intelligence officials. According to reports, discussions included the possibility of restarting negotiations and a potential meeting involving Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Putin also indicated that Moscow was comfortable dealing with people close to Trump, specifically mentioning US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

“We find it much more comfortable to work with people we trust. These are people close to Trump,” he said.

The latest signal from Moscow came as the war continued to intensify.

Russia launched a major aerial assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than a dozen others, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks, involving hundreds of drones and missiles, were reported as the sixth consecutive day of heavy Russian strikes.

Ukraine has also continued attacks deep inside Russian territory, using drones against military, energy and industrial targets.

Putin said Russian forces had captured about 270 square kilometres of territory in the Donetsk region during August and claimed that a sizeable Ukrainian force had been surrounded. The claims could not be independently verified.

The Russian president also reacted to comments by Zelenskyy concerning Russian airspace. Putin said he had not heard the Ukrainian leader’s remarks but described the reported threat as “state terrorism”.

“I haven’t heard it, but it sounds like state terrorism,” Putin said, adding, “No negotiations are held with terrorists. We will respond.”

The comments highlight the difficult balance between military escalation and diplomatic engagement. While Putin is signalling that Russia remains open to talks, Moscow continues to insist on its longstanding demands, including territorial concessions from Kyiv.

Ukraine, for its part, has rejected surrendering territory it controls and has sought firm security guarantees as part of any eventual peace settlement.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Putin on the sidelines of the summit, urged an end to the war, saying that every day of fighting was setting humanity back and that the conflict should move towards a conclusion.

Despite the renewed diplomatic contacts, the battlefield situation remains volatile. Russia has continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kyiv has intensified its long-range drone campaign against targets inside Russia.

The latest developments suggest that channels for dialogue remain open, but significant differences between Moscow and Kyiv continue to stand in the way of a comprehensive peace agreement.