MOSCOW, Dec 25 (Reuters) – Russia is able to negotiate with all events concerned within the battle in Ukraine however Kyiv and its Western backers have refused to interact in talks, President Vladimir Putin mentioned in an interview aired on Sunday.
Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has triggered probably the most lethal battle in Europe since World Conflict Two and the largest confrontation between Moscow and the West because the 1962 Cuban Missile Disaster.
There may be, to this point, little finish in sight to the battle.
The Kremlin says it’s going to combat till all its goals are achieved whereas Kyiv says it won’t relaxation till each Russian soldier is ejected from all of its territory, together with Crimea which Russia annexed in 2014.
“We’re prepared to barter with everybody concerned about acceptable options, however that’s as much as them – we’re not those refusing to barter, they’re,” Putin informed Rossiya 1 state tv within the interview.
CIA Director William Burns mentioned in an interview revealed this month that whereas most conflicts finish in negotiation, the CIA’s evaluation was that Russia was not but critical about an actual negotiation to finish the battle.
An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned that Putin wanted to return to actuality and acknowledge that it was Russia which didn’t need any negotiations.
“Russia single-handedly attacked Ukraine and is killing residents,” Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned on Twitter. “Russia doesn’t need negotiations, however tries to keep away from accountability.”
‘NO OTHER CHOICE’
Putin mentioned Russia was performing within the “proper course” in Ukraine as a result of the West, led by the US, was making an attempt to cleave Russia aside. Washington denies it’s plotting Russia’s collapse.
“I consider that we’re performing in the best course, we’re defending our nationwide pursuits, the pursuits of our residents, our individuals. And we now have no different alternative however to guard our residents,” Putin mentioned.
Requested if the geopolitical battle with the West was approaching a harmful stage, Putin mentioned: “I do not suppose it is so harmful.”
Putin mentioned the West had begun the battle in Ukraine in 2014 by toppling a pro-Russian president within the Maidan Revolution protests.
Quickly after that revolution, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and Russian-backed separatist forces started combating Ukraine’s armed forces in jap Ukraine.
“Truly, the basic factor right here is the coverage of our geopolitical opponents which is aimed toward pulling aside Russia, historic Russia,” Putin mentioned.
Putin casts what he calls a “particular navy operation” in Ukraine as a watershed second when Moscow lastly stood as much as a Western bloc he says has been in search of to destroy Russia because the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.
Ukraine and the West say Putin has no justification for what they forged as an imperial-style battle of occupation which has sown struggling and dying throughout Ukraine.
Putin described Russia as a “distinctive nation” and mentioned the overwhelming majority of its individuals had been united in eager to defend it.
“As for the principle half – the 99.9% of our residents, our people who find themselves prepared to present every thing for the pursuits of the Motherland – there may be nothing uncommon for me right here,” Putin mentioned.
“This simply as soon as once more convinces me that Russia is a singular nation and that we now have an distinctive individuals. This has been confirmed all through the historical past of Russia’s existence.”
Further reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv
Modifying by Gareth Jones
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
