Putin says he is willing to make concessions for peace if Ukraine also makes them

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed this Thursday that his US counterpart, Donald Trump, has asked Russia to make some concessions to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine. Moscow would be willing to do so, the Kremlin chief assured, provided Kyiv did the same.

At a meeting with heads of international news agencies, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin stated that, nevertheless, Russia has all the necessary resources to achieve its military objectives.

He also asserted that Russian troops are advancing in Ukraine. Despite this, Russia is prepared to reach a peaceful agreement with Ukraine, the Russian leader said.

According to Putin, Trump’s peace proposals could serve as a basis for a peace agreement. But for them to work, Trump still needs to persuade Kyiv.

The Kremlin chief calls on the EU to convince Kyiv and not send it weapons

In this regard, he appealed to the European Union to convince Ukraine. “The EU could play a positive role, but not with arms supplies, but with attempts to convince the authorities in Kyiv to accept the commitments we discussed in Anchorage,” Putin said, referring to the summit he and Trump held in that Alaskan city in August 2025.

Contacts to try to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine are now suspended due to the involvement of the United States, which has acted as a mediator for more than a year, in its war against Iran. But the talks had already reached an apparent dead end before, as the positions of Moscow and Kyiv on the territorial issue (essentially concerning the Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine) are irreconcilable.

Putin made these statements a day after Ukrainian drones attacked an oil complex and a naval base in St. Petersburg. The strike coincided with the first day of the economic forum, which is held between June 3 and 6. This is an emblematic annual event for Russia, with which Putin wants to show the world the best of his country to attract investments.

Putin acknowledged that this is a military aspect in which Russia must make reforms. “Russia has an air defense system. Yes, we must improve. Yes, we must strengthen it and we are going to do it,” he stated.

Translated from