Putin Made A Statement Regarding Negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he hopes to reach a diplomatic agreement with Ukraine.

While the war, which started with Russia's attack on Ukrainian territory on February 24, continued, Putin made a statement regarding negotiations. Stating that they hope to reach a diplomatic agreement with Ukraine, Putin stated that negotiations are continuing. Meeting with United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Moscow, Putin held a press conference before the critical meeting. Emphasizing that they strongly support the principles on which the UN is based, Putin said that they intend to do this in the future as well. Stating that some talk about a world based on rules, but the rules are not written to ensure someone's interests, Putin said that they believe the UN charter and other UN documents are fundamental documents. Expressing that he was surprised by some of his colleagues' statements that someone in the world is exclusive or claims exclusive rights, Putin said, "Because the UN charter states that all participants in the international community are equal to each other regardless of their power, size and geographical location. I think this is similar to what is written in the Bible. We find the same thing in the Qur'an and the Torah. All men are equal before God.” Claiming that the problem was the "coup" that took place in Ukraine in 2014, Putin said that people living in Donbas had been blockaded by the Kyiv administration for years. Pointing out that the authorities in Kiev expressed at the highest level that they do not intend to comply with the Minsk Agreement under these conditions, Putin said, “After their public declaration of this, we had to stop the genocide of the people living in these lands and recognize the independence of the states here. We were compelled to do so by launching a special military operation, pursuant to article 51, section 7 of the UN charter. Despite the ongoing military operation, I would like to let you know that we hope we can reach an agreement diplomatically. We are negotiating, we are not rejecting them.” Drawing attention to the talks that took place in Istanbul with the mediation of Turkey, Putin said, “But unfortunately, after reaching the agreements, after we made it clear that we intend to create favorable conditions for the continuation of the negotiations, we were faced with a provocation in Bucha, which the Russian army had nothing to do with. We know who prepared this provocation, who did it.” Pointing out that the Ukrainian negotiators' attitudes towards a solution changed dramatically after the Bucha incident, Putin noted that despite everything, the negotiations continue online and he still hopes for a positive result.