No Christmas truce but yes to negotiations that lead to a stable and lasting peace . On the other hand, the situation in Ukraine is changing "drastically" and Russia "is close to achieving its priority objectives" .
These are the words of Vladimir Putin , who today held his usual end-of-year press conference.
"What is needed is not a ceasefire with Ukraine, but a long-term, lasting peace with guarantees for the Russian Federation and its citizens," Putin said, while a truce "could allow Ukrainian soldiers to rest, obtain the necessary equipment and ammunition, and engage in training, retraining and strengthening their personnel."
"We are ready to negotiate, but we need the Ukrainians to be ready too. Politics is the art of compromise," the Russian president continued, stressing that the dialogue with Kiev must be conducted "on the basis of the reality that is taking shape on the ground today." Just yesterday, Zelensky admitted that he does not have the strength to reconquer Crimea and Donbass .
"We," Putin points out, "have always said that we are ready for negotiations and compromises, but the other side refused. Soon the Ukrainians who want to fight will end ." And any peace agreements must be signed, the Russian president continues, with legitimate authorities. "The current authorities in Kiev are not legitimate," Putin attacks. " If there are elections, if someone becomes legitimate, we will talk to everyone, including Zelensky. If Ukraine really wants to take the path to a peaceful solution, it can certainly do so. But we can sign (peace agreements) only with those who are legitimate. And the Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) and the president of the Rada are legitimate ."
The nearly three years of conflict have been “a serious test for everyone,” Putin continued, adding that he himself has and “begun to joke less, improving my ability to concentrate on key problems and how to solve them.”
