Putin says he’s ready to hear Trump’s peace ideas but demands Ukraine conditionsPublished 23 hours ago on June 5, 2026By Ezinne Obah Share
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his hardline stance on the war in Ukraine, saying Russian forces are still advancing on the battlefield, while backing peace proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to editors of international media on the margins of the annual economic summit in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia was ready to continue fighting if necessary but also open to a diplomatic settlement based on compromises he said were discussed at conversations with Trump.
Any peace deal, Putin said, would demand concessions from Kyiv. He said that Russia was ready to respect the agreements discussed with the government of the United States but there were no signals at the moment that Ukraine was ready to accept the required sacrifices.
The Russian leader also said Moscow’s military goals have not altered, with Russian forces continuing to move forward in eastern Ukraine and that Russia would reach its objectives through diplomacy or further military action.
Putin’s remarks came as Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issued an open letter calling for face-to-face discussions between the two leaders in a neutral country. Zelenskyy called on Russia to return to the negotiating table, proposing a ceasefire and prisoner exchange as possible first steps to resuming engagement.
Putin welcomed the prospect of peace negotiations but reaffirmed demands that Ukraine understand the facts on the battlefield and accept terms that Kyiv has previously rejected. Ukrainian officials continue to oppose any settlement that would include ceding territory or reducing the country’s sovereignty.
The fresh comments come as worldwide calls rise for an end to the conflict, now in its fifth year and Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II, with the two sides remaining as far apart as ever.
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